A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Thomas, Abel Wantner
THOMAS. (Commander, 1814. f-p., 21; h-p., 33.)
Abel Wantner Thomas entered the Navy, 15 July, 1793, as Midshipman, on board the Argo 44, Capt. Wm. Clark, whom, after cruizing in the North Sea, Baltic, and Atlantic, he followed, in Jan. and March, 1795, into the Sampson 64 and Victorious 74. In the latter ship he assisted at the reduction of the Cape of Good Hope, and was in company, 9 Sept. 1796, with the Arrogant 74, in an action of nearly four hours, fought off Sumatra, with six heavy French frigates under M. Sercey, which terminated in the separation of the combatants, after each had been well crippled, and the Victorious occasioned a loss of 17 men killed and 57, including her Captain, wounded. In May, 1800, Mr. Thomas, who was still in the East Indies, removed to the Suffolk 74, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Peter Rainier. On 6 July following he was nominated Acting-Lieutenant of the Orpheus frigate, Capt. Robt. Evans; he performed the duties next, of Senior Lieutenant, from Nov. 1800 until Oct. 1801, in the Babelmandel, Capt. Austin Bissell, employed in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf; and he then went back in a similar capacity to the Orpheus, commanded at the time by Capt. Chas. Elphinstone. In that ship, to which he was confirmed 18 Oct. 1802, he made a voyage to China and visited the Philippine Islands. Quitting her in May, 1803, he was appointed, 13 July following, to the command of the Grappler gun-brig; which vessel, on 31 Dec. in the same year, took the ground on the Iles de Chausey, after sustaining a desperate conflict with an overwhelming force sent from Granville to effect her capture, and was there taken possession of by the enemy and destroyed. So distinguished was the bravery displayed on the occasion by the officers and crew that, on being taken to Verdun, the former, by the command of Napoleon Buonaparte, had their swords returned to them. Mr. Thomas himself was so severely wounded in the lip, tongue, and throat, that he.was ultimately presented with an honorary reward by the Patriotic Society and allotted, 2 Dec. 1815, a pension of 150l. per annum. On his return to England at the peace he was promoted, 15 June, 1814, to the rank of Commander. He has since been on half-pay. Agent – J. Hinxman.