A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Stead, Thomas Fisher
STEAD. (Lieut., 181,5. f-p., 12; h-p., 30.)
Thomas Fisher Stead entered the Navy, 15 Sept. 1805, as Sec.-cl. Boy, on board La Virginie 38, Capt. Edw. Brace; in which ship he was for two years and a half employed, latterly in the capacity of Midshipman, in the North Sea and on the coast of Ireland. He then, in March 1808, joined the Revenge 74, Capts. Sir John Gore and Hon. Chas. Paget, off Cadiz; and from the following Aug. until Nov. 1814, he served (with the exception of a few months passed, between April and Nov. 1809, in the Circe 32, Capt. Edw. Woolcorabe) in the Pelorus 18, and Alcmène and Jason frigates, all commanded by Capt. Hon. Jas. Wm. King, on the West India, Newfoundland, and Home stations. In the Jason he escorted Louis XVIII. to the French shore in April, 1814; as he shortly afterwards did the Emperor Alexander, the King of Prussia, and the Duchess of Oldenburgh, on their return from England. In Nov. 1815, at which period he had been serving for 11 months on the Brazilian and Cape of Good Hope stations in the Centaur 74, Capt. Thos. Gordon Caulfeild, he was presented with a commission dated back to 27 Feb. preceding. Since 11 July, 1845, he has been employed as Admiralty Agent on board a contract mail steam-vessel. Agents – Messrs. Chard.