A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Symes, Joseph
SYMES. (Rear-Admiral, 1846. f-p., 10; h-p., 36.)
Joseph Symes is nephew of the late Admiral Sir Wm. Domett, G.C.B.
This officer entered the Navy, in March, 1801, as A.B., on board the Alkmaar 50, Capt. Rich. Poulden, lying at Portsmouth; and from the following April until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 13 March, 1806, was employed, on the Baltic, Home, Mediterranean, North American, and West India stations, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, in the Lynx and Sophie sloops, Capts. Alex. Skene and Philip L. J. Rosenhagen, Dryad 36, Capt. Wm. Domett, Tonnant 80, Capts. Sir Edw. Pellew and Chas. Tyler, Cerberus 32, Capt. Wm. Selby, and Veteran 64, flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Jas. Rich. Dacres. In the Tonnant he fought at the battle of Trafalgar 21 Oct. 1805. His appointments in the capacity of Lieutenant were – 30 March, 1808, to the Meleager 36, Capt. Fred. Warren, under whom he was wrecked, 30 July following, on the Barebush Key, near Port Royal – 5 Dec. in the same year, to the Bonne Citoyenne, of 20 guns and 127 men, Capt. Wm. Mounsey, employed on the Halifax and Lisbon stations – and 7 and 27 Feb. 1810 to the Belvidera 36 and Rodney 74, Capts. Henry Baker and Sir Wm. Bolton, lying at Woolwich. In the Bonne Citoyenne he was present, 6 July, 1809, and was mentioned for the able assistance he afforded, at the capture of La Furieuse French frigate of 20 guns (pierced for 48) and 200 men, armée en flûte, which did not surrender until a hard-fought action of nearly seven hours had occasioned the British a loss of 1 man killed and 5 wounded, and herself of 35 killed and 37 wounded.[1] For his conduct on this occasion Mr. Symes, as soon as he had completed his two years’ servitude as Lieutenant, was promoted, 13 March, 1810, to the rank of Commander. His last appointments were, 5 Sept. 1810 and 30 Aug. 1811, to the Portia and Thracian sloops, the former stationed in the North Sea, the latter off Cherbourg, where he destroyed, 18 Dec. 1811, a French lugger privateer, pierced for 18 guns, and full of men. He was posted 21 March, 1812; and advanced to his present rank 1 Oct. 1846.
Rear-Admiral Symes married, 13 May, 1815, Miss Sarah Phelps, of Crewkerne, co. Somerset.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1809, p. 1496.