A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Mitchell, Thomas (a)
MITCHELL. (Commander, 1842. f-p., 23; h-p., 13.)
Thomas Mitchell is son of Major Mitchell, R.M.
This officer entered the Navy, 31 Aug. 1811, as Sec.-cl. Vol., on board the America 74, Capt. Josias Rowley, attached to the force in the Mediterranean; where, until Oct. 1816, he continued to serve, in the Centaur 74, Capt. John Chambers White, Edinburgh 74, Capts. Robt. Rolles and Hon. Geo. Heneage Lawrence Dundas, Furieuse 36, Capt. Wm. Mounsey, Edinburgh again, Capt. Dundas, Repulse 74, Capt. Rich. Hussey Moubray, and Berwick 74, and Impregnable 104, both commanded by Capt. Edw. Brace. He was present, as Midshipman of the Furieuse, at the reduction of the island of Ponza in Feb. 1813. In the Edinburgh he witnessed, in the course of the same year, the storming of the batteries of d’Anzo, and the capture of a convoy of 29 vessels anchored for protection under the walls; also the surrender of Via Reggio; and the unsuccessful attack on Leghorn. In 1815 it was his lot to be on board the Berwick at the taking of Gaeta; and on 27 Aug. 1816 he assisted in the Impregnable, under the flag of Rear-Admiral David Milne, at the bombardment of Algiers. From Jan. 1817 until Oct. 1823, we find him in succession employed, on the Home, St. Helena, and West India stations, in the Ister 42, Capt. Thos. Forrest, Albion 74, Capt. Rich. Raggett, Vigo 74, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Robt. Lambert, and Gloucester 74, Commodore Sir Edw. W. C. R. Owen. He was then, as a reward for his conduct in having twice in one day gone off in the quarter-boat during a heavy sea for the purpose of rescuing a man who had fallen overboard, placed on the Admiralty List for promotion, and appointed Mate of the Icarus 10, Capt. John Geo. Graham; of which vessel (having passed his examination in April, 1819) he was nominated Acting-Lieutenant 10 March, 1824. After three months of very active boat-service against the pirates on the coast of Cuba, he was placed as Mate, in July of the latter year, on board the Serapis receiving-ship at Port Royal, Capt. Geo. Vernon Jackson, lie was confirmed a Lieutenant, 10 Dec. following, in the Carnation 18; and, that sloop being paid off in July, 1825, was subsequently appointed Senior – 27 March, 1828, of the Adventure 6, Capt. Philip Parker King, employed, until her return to England in the autumn of 1830, in surveying the neighbourhood of Cape Horn – 20 Aug. 1831, of the Aetna 6, Capt. Edw. Belcher, during a servitude of three years in which vessel he assisted in surveying part of the coast of Africa and the Mediterranean, and was stationed in the river Douro during the hostilities between Pedro and Miguel, by a sentry belonging to the latter of whom he was fired at and struck while on the quarter-deck – 20 Nov. 1834, for a few weeks, of the Excellent gunnery-ship at Portsmouth, Capt. Thos. Hastings – 13 March, 1836, of the Minden 74, Capt. Alex. Renton Sharpe, fitting for the Mediterranean, where, prior to his return in Feb. 1840, he received the thanks of the Admiralty (in conjunction with Lieut. Roberts) for having again gone off in the quarter-boat during a hard gale to pick up a man who had fallen into the sea – and 3 Sept. 1841, of the Formidable 84, Capts. Sir Edw. Thos. Troubridge and Sir Chas. Sullivan, fitting at Sheerness. He attained his present rank 28 Jan. 1842, and has since been on half-pay.
Commander Mitchell married, 22 Nov. 1842, Caroline, daughter of the late T. W. Pink, Esq., of Portsea.