A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Thomas, William
THOMAS. (Lieut., 1822. f-p., 18; h-p., 21.)
William Thomas entered the Navy, 30 Aug. 1808, as A.B., on board the Inflexible 64, Capts. Hon. Donald Hugh Mackay and Thos. Brown, fitting for the Halifax station; where he removed as Midshipman, in Aug. 1809, to the Junon 38, Capt. John Shortland. In that frigate he was captured, 13 Dec. following, off Guadeloupe, after an heroic resistance of 45 minutes, and a loss of 20 men lulled and 40 wounded, by a French squadron, consisting of the 40-gun frigates Renommée and Clorinde and armées-en-flûte the Loire and Seine, carrying each 20 guns. With the two former the Junon maintained a yard-arm-and-yard-arm conflict until she was on the point of sinking. On being restored to liberty at the peace of 1814, Mr. Thomas successively joined, on the West India station, the Swiftsure 74, Capts. Arden Adderley and Wm. Henry Webley, and Venerable 74. In the latter ship, which bore the flag of Sir Philip Chas. Durham, he aided, in 1815, in securing Martinique to Louis XVIII. and in reducing Guadeloupe. He was subsequently, from 5 May, 1816, until 19 July, 1819, employed at Leith as Admiralty-Midshipman and Mate in the Nimrod 18, Capts. John Macpherson Ferguson, John Windham Dalling, and Chas. Nelson; he then removed to the Iphigenia 42, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Robt. Mends on the coast of Africa; and on 25 April, 1822, he was nominated, on that station, Acting-Lieutenant of the Myrmidon, Capt. Henry John Leeke. Soon after his official promotion, which took place 26 Aug. in the same year, he returned to England. His appointments have since been – 18 Oct. 1824, for less than two years, to the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary Lieutenant of the Ramillies 74, Capt. Hugh Pigot – 8 April, 1843, for a few months, to the post of Admiralty Agent on board a contract mail steam-vessel – and 18 Nov. 1845, to the Transport service, in which, deducting an interval in 1847, he has since remained.
Lieut. Thomas is married, and has issue.