A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Thompson, Charles
THOMPSON. (Retired Commander, 1840. f-p., 17; h-p., 40.)
Charles Thompson was born 11 Jan. 1777, He is brother of Rear-Admiral John Thompson. This officer entered the Navy, 1 May, 1790, as Midshipman, on board the Princess Royal 98, Capt. John Holloway, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Hotham in the Channel. From Sept. 1791 until July, 1792, he served on the coast of North America and in the West Indies in the Triton 28, Capt. Geo. Murray; and in March, 1793, he joined the Ariadne 20, Capts. Thos. Revell Shivers, Chas. Wm. Paterson, Robt. Plampin, Robt. Gambier Middleton, and Henry Lidgbird Ball. In that ship, after again visiting North America, he proceeded to the Mediterranean; where he witnessed the evacuation of Toulon, co-operated in the reduction of Corsica, and assisted in the boats in cutting out a variety of the enemy’s vessels. In Jan. 1796, being then again in the West Indies, he removed as Master’s Mate to the Bulldog 14, Capts. John Hope (acting), John Dick, Rich. Goddard, and Geo. Fred. Ryves. He joined next the Prince of Wales 98, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Harvey, under whom he contributed to the capture of Trinidad; and on 15 March, 1797, he was made Lieutenant into his former vessel the Bulldog, still commanded by Capt. Ryves. His succeeding appointments were – 23 Nov. 1797 and 10 Oct. 1798, to the Stork 18, Capts. Rich. Harrison Pearson and Christopher Laroche, and Adventure 44, Capts. Wm. Chilcott and Thos. Leef, both in the West Indies – 12 April, 1799, as First-Lieutenant (a rank he had filled on board the Stork) to the Phoenix 36, Capt. Lawrence Wm. Halsted, on the Mediterranean station, whence he returned to England and was paid off in July, 1802 – in Aug. 1804, to the Sea Fencibles – 9 Oct. 1805, to the Kent 74, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Edw. Thornbrough at Chatham – 21 of the same month, to the Lord Eldon armed ship, Capt. Fras. Newcombe, again in the Mediterranean – and 30 Jan. 1806, to the Endymion 40, Capt. Hon. Thos. Bladen Capel, which frigate, from the circumstance of Lord Collingwood having kept back his commission for her, he did not join until the following Aug. While serving in the Bulldog Mr. Thompson had command for several months of a tender. With the boats of the Scout under his orders he brought out several vessels from the island of St. Domingo. In the Phoenix he was present, near Elba, at the capture, 3 Aug. 1801, of the French 40-gun frigate Carrère; and on 28 of the following month, at the destruction of the Bravoure and the surrender of the Succh. The latter frigate, before her colours were hauled down, grounded on the Vada Shoal, off Leghorn; but by the exertions of Mr. Thompson she was got afloat. He afterwards conducted her in a leaky state to Minorca.[1] Prior to this event he had accompanied the expedition under Lord Keith and Sir Ralph Abercromby to Egypt. During the more than three years that he remained in the Phoenix he saw, we may add, much boat service. In the Endymion, in which frigate he continued actively employed until June, 1808, he passed the Dardanells with Sir John Duckworth in Feb. 1807. From Oct. 1812 until June, 1814, he acted as Agent for prisoners of war at Odiham and Reading. He was admitted to the out-pension of Greenwich Hospital 3 Dec. 1827; and invested with his present rank 30 April, 1840.
Commander Thompson (whose health from the effects of his services during the war was for many years much impaired) married, 17 Feb. 1803, Miss Temple, and he has issue two children.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1801, p. 1355.