A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Sherwin, Thomas Cowper
SHERWIN. (Commander, 1825.)
Thomas Cowper Sherwin entered the Navy, in 1788, as Fst.-cl. Vol., ,on board the Myrmidon, in which vessel and in the Hyaena 24, the latter commanded by Capt. Wm. Aylmer, he served for about three years in the Channel. Joining next, in 1793, the Alligator, Capt. Wm, Appleby, he sailed in that ship for the West Indies, where, from 1794 until 1798, he served on board the Europa 50, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Ford, Sampson 64, Capt. Thos. Louis, Majestic and Swiftsure 74’s, flag-ships of Sir John Laforey and Sir Hugh Clobery Christian, Abergavenny 64, Capts. Smith and John Cochet, and Rattler sloop, Capt. Hall. In the Europa he assisted at the reduction of the French islands; he was made Lieutenant into the Abergavenny 22 July, 1796; and he acted as Commander of the Rattler in an attack made upon a fort at St. Domingo. Between May, 1799, and 1805, he served on the Home station in the America 64, Capt. John Smith (part of the force employed in the expedition to Holland), Warrior 74, Capt. Chas. Tyler, Princess of Orange 74, Capt. Chas. Cobb, Pylades sloop, Capt. Jas. Boorder, Swiftsure 74, Capt. Ferris, and Atlas 74, Capts. Wm. Hope and Sam. Pym. His next appointments were, to the command – 28 Oct. 1808 and (after 12 months of half-pay caused by ill health) 28 Aug. 1810, of the Flamer and Active, both in the Downs – 22 Oct. in the latter year, to the Nonpareil, in the Channel, where he served until 1812 – and, 26 March, 1814, and 4 June, 1817, for periods of 14 and 17 months, to the Sprightly and Starling, on the same station. In 1819 he was nominated an Inspecting-Commander of the Irish Coast Guard; and, on 27 May, 1825, as a reward for long and active services, he was promoted to his present rank.
In 1834 Commander Sherwin was appointed a Stipendiary Magistrate at the Cape of Good Hope; and, since 20 Nov. 1843, he has filled the post of Emigration Agent General for British Guiana. He is married and has issue. Agent – Joseph Woodhead.