A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Thomson, Charles
THOMSON. (Commander, 1840. f-p., 17; h-p., 18.)
Charles Thomson entered the Navy, 10 June, 1812, as a Supernumerary Boy, on board the Cherokee 10, Capt. Wm. Ramage, stationed at Leith, where he soon attained the rating of Midshipman, and continued employed until Sept. 1815. He served next, from Jan. 1816 until Aug. 1818, in the Brazen sloop, Capt. Jas. Stirling, in the West Indies; and from the latter date until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 30 Nov. 1820, chiefly at Portsmouth, in the Queen Charlotte 100, flag-ship of Sir Geo. Campbell, Salisbury 50, fitting for the flag of Rear-Admiral Donald Campbell, Camelion 10, Capt. Wm. Jas. Mingaye, Royal George yacht, Capt. Hon. Chas. Paget, and again in the Camelion and Royal George. His subsequent appointments were – 12 March, 1824, to the Bulwark 76, Capt. Thos. Dundas, lying at Portsmouth – 8 Feb. 1825, for nine months, to the Hyperion 42, Capt. W. J. Mingaye, stationed at Newhaven for the purposes of the Coast Blockade – 19 April, 1827, to the Prince Regent 120, bearing the flag of Sir Robt. Moorsom at Chatham – 7 Aug. following to the Warspitb 76, Capts. Hon. Rich. Saunders Dundas and Wm. Parker, in the Mediterranean – 22 Jan. 1829, to the Kent 78, Capt. John Ferris Devonshire, at Plymouth – 17 Sept. 1829 and 21 June, 1831, to the Britannia 120, flag-ship of Sir Pulteney Malcolm, and Kent again, Capt. Sam. Pym, both in the Mediterranean, whence he returned in Dec. of the latter year – and 20 July, 1838, as First-Lieutenant, to the Hastings 72, Capts. Fras. Erskine Loch and John Lawrence. In the ship last mentioned he escorted the Queen Dowager to Malta and back, and took part in the operations on the coast of Syria, where he commanded the boats in the attack upon the Castle of Gebail 12 Sept. 1840. For his services he was promoted to the rank of Commander 5 Nov. in the same year. He left the Hastings in Jan. 1841; and has since been on half-pay.