A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Lipson, Thomas
LIPSON. (Commander, 1619. f-p., 23; h-p., 31.)
Thomas Lipson entered the Navy, in 1793, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Windsor Castle 98, Capt. Sir Thos. Byard, with whom he served in that ship at the reduction of Corsica; in the Bedford 74 in the action off Camperdown 11 Oct. 1797, and in the Foudroyant 80 at the capture, in Oct. 1798, of a French squadron under M. Bompart, destined for the invasion of Ireland. He continued in the last-mentioned ship under the flags of Lord Keith and Nelson until 1799 – latterly on the Mediterranean station; where, and in the North Sea, he was during the rest of the war employed, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, in the Princess Charlotte 38, Ruby 64, and Isis 50, Capts. Sir Edw. Berry and Thos. Masterman Hardy. In 1803, after his name had been borne for short periods on the books of the Neptune 98, Capt. Fras. Wm. Austen, Amphion 32, Capt. T. M. Hardy, and Hydra 38, Capt. Geo. Mundy, he joined the Montagu 74, Capt. Robt. Waller Otway. During his continuance in that ship he assisted at the blockade of the enemy’s ports from Brest to the Dardanells; and was present, 22 Aug. 1805, in Adm. Hon. Wm. Cornwallis’ attack on the French fleet close in with Brest Harbour, on which occasion the Montagu exchanged broadsides with L’Alexandre of 80 guns. On 24 Jan. 1808 Mr. Lipson was nominated Acting-Lieutenant of the Sabrina 18, Capt. Edw. Kittoe, then off Cadiz. He was officially promoted 29 June, 1809, and was subsequently appointed – 29 Jan. 1810, as Senior, to the Bonne Citoyenne corvette, Capt. Pitt Burnaby Greene, in South America – 1 March, and 21 Sept. 1812, to the Laurestinus 24, and Barfleur 98, Capts. Hon. Wm. Gordon and Sir Edw. Berry, on the Brazilian and Mediterranean stations – in 1814-15, as First, to the Iphigenia 36, Capt. Andrew King, Tonnant 80, Sovereign 100, Capt. Wm. Robt. Broughton, employed on the coast of North America and at home and, 20 Nov. 1816 (after several months of half-pay), to the command of the Lapwing Revenue-cutter, which vessel, in Jan. 1817, was driven from her anchorage in Mill Bay, Plymouth, and went ashore high and dry, over a ridge of rocks, with comparatively little injury. He attained his present rank 4 March, 1819; and has not been since afloat.
Commander Lipson is now Harbour-Master at Adelaide, South Australia. He married, 30 July, 1812, Elizabeth, daughter of Wm. Took, Esq., of Weymouth. Agent – Joseph Woodhead.