A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Thomas, Thomas
THOMAS. (Retired Commander, 1842. f-p., 13; h-p., 42.)
Thomas Thomas was born at Caermarthen, in Wales. He is brother of M. Thomas, Esq., Deputy Inspector-General of the Ordnance Medical Department at Woolwich; and of the late Lieut. Jas. Thomas, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 15 Sept. 1792, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Europa 50, hearing the broad pendant of Commodore Ford at Jamaica. In 1794 he removed, as Midshipman, to the Active 38; and in that frigate and the Arethusa 38, both commanded by Capt. Thos. Wolley, he served in the North Sea, at Newfoundland, and in the West Indies and Channel until made Lieutenant, 5 Jan. 1799, into the Camilla 20, Capt. Robt. Larkan. In the Arethusa he assisted at the reduction of Ste. Lucie in May, 1796, co-operated also in the suppression of an insurrection among the Caribs in the islands of St. Vincent and Grenada, and after contributing to the conquest of Trinidad and the destruction there of a Spanish squadron was present, 10 Aug. 1797, in an action of thirty minutes, which terminated in the surrender of La Gaieté French corvette of 20 long 8-pounders and 186 men. In the Camilla Mr. Thomas was employed, until April, 1802, on the West India, Home, and Newfoundland stations. In Dec. 1802 the ship was struck by a heavy sea, which carried away her mizen-mast and main-yard, and rendered it necessary that half her guns should be thrown overboard; yet, in this state, she engaged and beat off a French corvette of 22 guns. Mr. Thomas at the time was First-Lieutenant. His last appointments were – 29 Sept. 1803, to the Dart, Capt. Brownrigg, in the North Sea – and 3 June, 1805, and 11 Oct. 1806, to the Loire 38 and Volontaire 38, both commanded by Capt. Fred. Lewis Maitland. He was Senior of the Loire when, in company with the Egyptienne frigate, she made prize, 24 Dec. 1805, off Rochefort, of La Libre of 40 guns and 280 men. After he left the Volontaire in Nov. 1806 he did not go afloat. He became a Retired Commander on the Junior List 26 Nov. 1830; and on the Senior 10 Nov. 1842.
He married, in 1808, Jane, sister of the late Lieut.-Colonel Morgan, of the Royal Glamorgan Militia; and has issue. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.