A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Liddon, Matthew
LIDDON. (Commander, 1821. f-p., 16; h-p., 27.)
Matthew Liddon entered the Navy, 3 May, 1804, as Fst.-cl. Boy, on board the Lily 18, Capts. Geo. Morrison and Donald Campbell, and sailed for the West Indies, where, when Midshipman in charge of a prize, he had the misfortune to be captured by two French privateers, and taken to Cumana. From that place, however, he contrived in the dead of night to effect his escape by swimming off with 10 or 12 companions to a schooner in the harbour, the crew of which, after a struggle, were secured. Having returned to England, and been, in Aug. 1806, received on board the Pheasant 18, Capt. John Palmer, Mr. Liddon accompanied the expedition under Sir Sam. Auchmuty to the Rio de la Plata, where, in Feb. 1807, he served on shore at the storming of Monte Video. While next attached, between Dec. 1808 and Feb. 1811, to the Thames 32, Capt. Hon. Granville Geo. Waldegrave, on the Mediterranean station, he participated in a variety of detached operations, and, on 25 July, 1810, was officially alluded to for his conduct in her boats, with those of the Pilot and Weasel sloops, at the very gallant capture and destruction, notwithstanding a most spirited opposition, of 31 transports, 7 large gun-boats, and 5 armed vessels.[1] On leaving the Thames we find him acting for two months as Lieutenant of the Herald 20, Capt. Geo. Jackson, and during that period commanding her boats in an expedition on the coast of Italy conducted under the directions of Capt. John Toup Nicolas of the Pilot. On the day on which the latter occurrence took place Mr. Liddon saved the life of a man by jumping overboard after him. Being confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant 3 May, 1811, he took a passage home, as soon as he had received his commission, on board the Cumberland 74, Capt. Robt. Waller Otway, from the poop of which ship, while passing rapidly through the water, with all her canvass spread, he again dashed into the sea for the same humane purpose as before. On 6 of the following Nov. he obtained an appointment to the Maidstone 36, Capt. Geo. Burdett, with whom he served at first in the Channel and then in North America. On 8 Feb. 1813, being at the time in the Chesapeake, he took command of the Maidstone’s barge, and assisted the boats of a squadron under Lieut. Kelly Nazer in capturing, after a most determined resistance, the Lottery letter-of-marque, of 6 12-pounder carronades and 28 men – an exploit which was acknowledged by the especial thanks of Rear-Admiral Cockburn. He next, on 3 April following, accompanied a brilliant boat expedition 15 miles up the Rappannock river, where, acting, in the Maidstone’s launch, in conjunction with Lieut. Geo. Bishop in the Statira’s large cutter, he most gallantly boarded and carried the Dolphin schooner, of 12 guns and 98 men.[2] On 8 April, 1814, having further accompanied a detachment of six boats under Capt. Rich. Coote to the neighbourhood of Pettipague Point, on the river Connecticut, he there contributed to the destruction of 27 of the enemy’s vessels, three of which were heavy privateers, and the aggregate burden of the whole upwards of 5000 tons. From the Maidstone, while in which ship he had a third time intrepidly rescued a man from drowning, Mr. Liddon exchanged, 11 Aug. 1814, into La Hogue 74, Capt. Hon. Thos. Bladen Capel, with whom he soon returned to England and was paid off. His subsequent appointments were – in 1815-16, to the Albion, Queen, and Northumberland 74’s, all commanded by Capt. Jas. Walker at Sheerness, where he served until paid off in Sept. 1818 – and, 29 Jan. 1819, to the command of the Griper brig. In the latter vessel he accompanied an expedition to the Arctic regions under the present Sir Edw. Parry. He paid the Griper off 21 Dec. 1820, and has not been since employed. His commission as Commander bears date 8 Nov. 1821.
He married, in 1827, Anne, only daughter of the late Sam. Bilke, Esq., Stamford Street, Blackfriars.