A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Peat, David
PEAT. (Captain, 1847. f-p., 21; h-p., 16.)
David Peat was born 21 June, 1795, at Kirkaldy in Scotland.
This officer entered the Navy, 2 April, 1810 under the auspices of the late Admiral Sir Philip Durham, as L.M., on board the Archer gun-brig, Lieut.-Commanders Lawrence Smith, Michael Fitton, Jas. Lindsay, and Wm. Carnegie. After sharing, as Midshipman, in an affair with some Danish gun-boats, he removed, in Jan. 1812, to the Mosquito sloop, in which vessel, commanded hy Capts. Christopher Bell and Jas. Tomkinson, he came into frequent contact with the enemy’s batteries and made a voyage to the West Indies and Brazil. In Sept. 1814 (he had been employed during the three preceding months in the Dunira 18, Capt. Edw. Boys, on the Leeward Island station) he again joined Lieut. Fitton on board the Cracker gun-brig; he served next, from the following Dec. until June, 1816, in the Mediterranean, on board the Ajax 74, Capt. Geo. Mundy; and, in the ensuing Oct. and May, he became attached to the Ganymede 26 and Severn 40, both commanded by Capt. Wm. M‘Culloch. While engaged in the two latter ships in the Coast Blockade, on which service he was the first officer ever sent, he encountered several desperate affrays with the Deal smugglers, and gave occasion for so many letters of approbation from the Admiralty and his various superiors that he was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant 24 Nov. 1817. Being re-appointed to the Severn in June, 1818, he was stationed by Capt. M‘Culloch at Dungeness, where, among other affairs with illicit traders in which life was lost, he was once attacked singly, in open day, by three desperadoes, against whom he successfully defended himself, killing one on the spot, and, although possessed of no weapon but his regulation-sword, compelling the remainder to fly. While employed next at Folkstone he received two pistol-balls on one occasion through his thigh; and on another, 9 June, 1821, when on the cliffs to the eastward with only three men, he was attacked by a numerous gang of ruffians, not less than 60 of whom were armed. In the unequal conflict that ensued he received two musket-balls, six pistol-balls, and ten slugs; one of his small party, a quartermaster, was shot through in five places, and fell dead at his side; and the other two were also brought to the ground, the one by a ball in the groin, the second by a shot in the knee. For his conduct and sufferings Lieut. Peat was advanced to the rank of Commander by commission bearing date the day of the occurrence; and awarded, 29 July, 1822, a pension of 91l. 5s. per annum. He was afterwards employed as an Inspecting Commander in the Coast Guard, from 5 July, 1836, until 1839, and again from 30 March, 1840, until promoted to his present rank, 1 Jan. 1847. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.