A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Pearson, Thomas
PEARSON. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 32; h-p., 8.)
Thomas Pearson was born 8 Dec. 1792.
This officer entered the Navy, 9 April, 1807, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Alfred 74, Capts. John Bligh, John Hayes, and Joshua Rowley Watson; removed as Midshipman, in Oct. 1809, to the Narcissus 32, Capt. Hon. Fred. Wm. Aylmer; and from March, 1812, to Aug. 1815, was employed in the Royal Sovereign 100, Capts. Wm. Bedford and Jas. Bissett, Telegraph 12, Capt. Timothy Scriven, Clarence 74, Capt. Fred. Warren, and Tay 24, Capts. Wm. Robilliard and Robt. Bloye. While in the Alfred he accompanied Admiral Gambier in the expedition to Copenhagen, served under Sir Chas. Cotton at the blockade of the Russian squadron in the Tagus prior to the convention of Cintra, landed and assisted in taking possession of the town of Figueira, and aided in disembarking the army under Sir Arthur Wellesley in Mondego Bay. Being lent, in 1809, to the San Domingo 74, flag-ship of Sir Rich. Strachan, he took part in the reduction of Flushing, and was employed in a gunboat during the after-operations in the Scheldt. In the Narcissus, in 1810, Mr. Pearson, besides witnessing the capture of two privateers carrying between them 28 guns and 180 men, was engaged in active co-operation with the patriots on the north coast of Spain. He afterwards, in the same ship, visited the latitude of Greenland. In the Royal Sovereign he was for nearly sixteen months stationed in Basque Roads; and in the Telegraph he was also employed on the coast of France, where he cut out a great number of the enemy’s vessels, and on 13 Oct. 1813, shared, in sight of the French and British armies, and under the fire of some batteries in the neighbourhood of Bayonne, in a spirited action of 15 minutes with the French corvette Flibustier of 16 guns, whose crew, after having effectively set her on fire, took to their boats and escaped. Within view of the Telegraph were the 18-gun sloop Challenger and 12-gun brig Constant. On leaving the Tay in Aug. 1815, Mr. Pearson, whose zeal and good conduct in the action had gained him the official thanks of his Captain,[1] took up a commission bearing date 27 Feb. in that year. He has been in command, since 2 Dec. 1823, of a station in the Coast Guard, and has rendered much valuable service to the revenue.
Lieut. Pearson has been twice married, the first time in Sept. 1819, the second in Aug. 1842. By his former marriage he has issue nine children.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1813, p. 2205.