A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Simpson, Thomas (a)
SIMPSON, K.T.S. (Retired Captain, 1841. f-p., 17; h-p., 39.)
Thomas Simpson died 28 March, 1848, at Stoke, Devonport.
This officer entered the Navy, 3 July, 1791, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Expedition cutter, attached to the force in the North Sea. In the course of the same year he joined the Ardent and Triton, Capts. Jas. Vashon and Geo. Murray, the latter in the West Indies; where and in the Channel he served as Midshipman and Master’s Mate in the Hector 74 and London 98, flag-ships of Admirals Geo. Montagu and Sir John Colpoys, from March, 1793, until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 7 July, 1797. His succeeding appointments were – in 1798, for four years, to the Captain 74, Capts. John Aylmer, Sir Rich. John Strachan, Geo. Bowen, and Chas. Boyles, employed in the West Indies, Mediterranean, and Channel – in Oct. 1803 and Dec. 1804, to the command of the Rose hired cutter (engaged in the conveyance of despatches) and of the Musette guard-vessel – 27 Nov. 1806, to the London 98, Capt. Thos. Western, under whom he escorted the Royal family of Portugal in its flight to the Brazils, and was in consequence, we believe, created a Knight of the order of the Tower and Sword – in June, 1809, to the command, which he retained for seven months, of a gun-boat employed in the Walcheren expedition – and, 26 Oct. 1810 and 24 Jan. 1811, to the Hibernia 120 and York 74, Capts. White and Robt. Barton, both in the Mediterranean. He was promoted to the rank of Commander 1 Aug. 1811, and placed on the list of Retired Captains 1 March, 1841.