A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Spark, Thomas
SPARK. (Commander, 1846. f-p., 18;[1] h-p., 24.)
Thomas Spark entered the Navy, 4 Nov. 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Defence 74, Capt. Geo. Hope; with whom and with Capts. Graham Moore, Rich. Henry Alex. Bennett, Phipps Hornby, Abel Ferris, and Walter Bathurst, he served from the following Dec. until June, 1811, the greater part of the time as Midshipman, in the Fame 74, on the West India, Home, and Mediterranean stations. He was then for eight months employed in the St. Fiorenzo troop-ship, Capt. Hon. Edm. Sexten Pery Knox; and for nearly seven in the Montagu 74, Capt. Manley Hall Dixon, and Chatham and Impétueux 74’s, both commanded by Capt. G. Moore. He was confirmed a Lieutenant (a few weeks after he had been ordered to act in that capacity) in the San Juan 74, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Chas. Vinicombe Penrose at Gibraltar, 15 Oct. 1812; invalided home in Nov. 1813; obtained an appointment in the Water Guard 22 Feb. 1820; and was subsequently placed in command – 12 May, 1830, of the Sylvia cutter, on the Home station – and 21 Nov. 1839 and 23 Feb. 1843, of the Prometheus and Polyphemus steamers, both in the Mediterranean, whence he returned towards the close of 1845. He was advanced to his present rank 23 April, 1846.
Commander Spark published, in 1829, a chart of the entrance into Poole Harbour, with Studland Bay – a correction of Lieut. M. M‘Kenzie’s chart of 1785. Agents – Burnett and Holmes.
- ↑ Exclusive of Water-Guard service.