A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Thornbrough, Edward Le Cras
THORNBROUGH. (Captain, 1827. f-p., 13; h-p., 28.)
Edward Le Cras Thornbrough, born 1 March, 1795, at Portsmouth, is only surviving child of the late Admiral Sir Edw. Thornbrough, G.C.B.[1] One of his ancestors was Bishop of Worcester in 1634.
This officer entered the Navy, in Feb. 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Kent 74, Capt. Henry Garrett, bearing the flag of his father, with whom he continued employed on the Home and Mediterranean stations in the Prince of Wales 98, Ville de Paris 110, and Royal Sovereign 100 (the latter part of the time in the capacity of Midshipman), until transferred, in Nov. 1809, to the Apollo 38, Capt. Bridges Watkinson Taylor. In that ship he assisted, 13 April, 1812, at the capture, under the batteries of Corsica, of the French frigate-built 850-ton store-ship Mérinos of 20 guns (pierced for 36) and 126 men, 6 of whom were killed and 20 wounded; and on 20 of the following month, of the national xebec Ulysse of 6 guns and 56 men. He was also, either in the Apollo or her boats, present at the destruction, 21 Dec. 1812, of St. Cataldo, the strongest tower between Brindisi and Otranto; at the taking, 29 Jan. and 3 Feb. 1813, of the well-protected islands of Augusta and Curzola; at the capture, in April and May following, of the island of Malero, of a felucca at St. Cataldo, of a convoy under Turkish colours bound with supplies to Corfu, and of a vessel mounting 2 guns; and at the reduction, in the early part of 1814, of the islands of Paxo and Anti-Paxo. On his arrival home in May, 1814, Mr. Thornbrough was received as a Supernumerary on board the Salvador del Mundo, Capt. Robt. Hall, lying at Plymouth; he obtained his first commission 12 Dec. in the same year; and he was next, 9 Jan. and 15 May, 1815, appointed to the Phoebe 36, Capt. Jas. Hillyar, and Queen Charlotte 100; in the latter of which ships he officiated as Flag-Lieutenant to his father at Portsmouth, until promoted to the rank of Commander 25 May, 1818. He served in the Ringdove 18, on the Halifax station, from 31 Aug. 1826 until advanced to Post-rank 17 April, 1827; and has since been on half-pay.
Capt. Thornbrough married, 30 Nov. 1820, Emily Raikes, second daughter of the late Daniel Garrett, Esq., of Colt House, near Honiton, Devon, and grand-daughter of Robt. Raikes, Esq., of Gloucester, the founder of Sunday-schools.
- ↑ Sir Edward Thornbrough was born 27 July, 1754, at Plymouth Dock. He entered the Navy 20 June, 1761, on board the Arrogant 74. Cnpt. John Amherst; attained the rank of Lieutenant 16 April, 1773; took part in several of the operations connected with the war of independence in America (where he was present as First of the Falcon sloop, Capt. John Linzee, at the battle of Bunker’s Hill, and was wounded in a desperate boat-attack upon an enemy’s schooner); and for his dashing conduct as Senior of the Flora of 42 guns and 259 men, Capt. Wm. Peere Williams Freeman, at the capture of La Nymphe French frigate of 32 guns (pierced for 40) and 291 men, was promoted, in Aug. 1780, to the rank of Commander, and appointed to the Britannia armed ship. He acquired Post-rank 24 Sept. 1781, and between that period and the date of his promotion to Flag-rank 1 Jan. 1801, he commanded the Blonde 32, Hebe frigate, Scipio 64, Latona 28, Robust 74, and Formidable 98. In the Blonde, which ship was ultimately wrecked in the Bay of Biscay, he succeeded, 8 May, 1782, in compelling seven privateers (one of 24, three of 20, two of 16, and one of 12 guns) simultaneously to strike their colours. The Hebe, one of the finest frigates in the British Navy, he commanded from Oct. 1783 until Oct. 1789. While commanding the Latona he distinguished himself by the ardour with which he went in pursuit, in Nov. 1793, of a French squadron, consisting of six ships of the line, two frigates, a brig, and a schooner; and by the important service he rendered to Lord Howe in the actions of 28 May and 1 June, 1794. In 1795, being then in the Robust, he co-operated, under Sir John Borlase Warren, with the royalists on the coast of France; and on 12 Oct. 1798, he contributed to the capture of the French 74-gun ship Le Hoche, one of asquadron commanded by Commodore Bompart, and destined for the invasion of Ireland. The Robust on that occasion sustained a loss of 10 killed and 40 wounded. In Feb. 1799, Capt. Thornbrough was nominated a Colonel of Marines. On the occasion of his promotion, as above, to the rank of Rear-Admiral, be hoisted his flag on board the Mars 74, and assumed command of the in-shore squadron off Brest, where he remained during the war. On the renewal of hostilities he was appointed Commander-in-Chief in the Downs; he was ordered shortly afterwards to take command of the squadron employed off the Texel; and in March, 1805, he became First-Captain of the Channel fleet under Lord Gardner. In the course of the same year he was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral. In 1806 he was sent, in the Prince of Wales 98, with five ships of the line under his orders, to watch the port of Rochefort. He afterwards held a command in the Mediterranean, with his flag in the Royal Sovereign 100; and from Aug. 1810 until Nov. 1813, and from April, 1815, until May, 1818, he commanded in chief on the Irish station and at Portsmouth. He was created a full Admiral 4 Dec. 1813, a K.C.B. 2 Jan. 1815, a G.C.B. 11 Jan. 1825. and Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom 30 Jan. 1833. He died an Admiral of the Red 3 April, 1834.