A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Riches, Watson Thomas
RICHES. (Lieutenant, 1814.)
Watson Thomas Riches was present, as Midshipman of the Windsor Castle 98, Capt. Chas. Boyles, in Sir Robt. Calder’s action, 22 July, 1805, at the capture of four heavy French frigates off Rochefort, 25 Sept. 1806, and at the passage of the Dardanells in Feb. 1807. In 1810 he assisted, in the Clorinde 38, Capt. Thos. Briggs, at the capture of the Isle of France; in the following year he co-operated, in the Illustrious 74, Commodore Wm. Robt. Broughton, in the conquest of the island of Java; and in 1813-14 he commanded, with the rating of Master’s Mate, a gun-boat on the river Elbe and at the reduction of Cuxhaven and Gluckstadt. He was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant 22 Jan. 1814; and has been in charge, since 19 Jan. 1839, of a station in the Coast Guard.