A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Tom, John
TOM. (Lieutenant, 1826. f-p., 13; h-p., 22.)
John Tom was born 18 Feb. 1800. He is brother-in-law of Lieut. Geo. Courtenay Greenway, R.N.; and first-cousin of Lieuts. D. B. and K. T. Baker, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 24 Jan. 1812, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Macedonian of 48 guns and 254 men, Capt. John Surman Garden; and was in that frigate when she was captured, 25 Oct. following, by the American ship United States of 56 guns and 474 men, after a desperate action of two hours and ten minutes, in which the British sustained a loss of 36 killed and 68 wounded, and the enemy of about 12 killed and wounded. In Sept. 1813, having regained his liberty, he was received on board the Royal Sovereign 100, Capts. Jas. Bisset, Thos. Gordon Caulfeild, and Edw. Thurlow Smith, on the Mediterranean station, where he continued employed, until May, 1819, in the Berwick and Edinburgh 74’s, Capts. Edw. Brace and John Lampen Manley, and Queen and Albion of similar force, both commanded (as flag-ships of Sir Chas. Vinicombe Penrose) by Capt. John Coode. He fought in the Albion at the battle of Algiers 27 Aug. 1816; and was awarded, the day following, the rating of Midshipman. Subsequently to his return from the Mediterranean he joined, generally in the capacity of Admiralty-Midshipman and Mate – 8 March, 1820, the Coast Blockade in Kent – 1 Sept. 1821, the Impregnable 104, flag-ship of Hon. Sir Alex. Cochrane at Plymouth – 15 Oct. 1823 (nearly 10 months after he had left the Impregnable), the Bulwark 74, Capt. Thos. Dundas, lying at the same port – 9 Jan. 1824, the Maidstone 42, equipping at Woolwich for the broad pendant of Commodore Chas. Bullen – 1 March following (having volunteered his services), the Griper, Capt. Geo. Fras. Lyon, under whom he sailed on a voyage of discovery to the Polar regions, encountered many hardships and dangers, and on more occasions than one narrowly escaped shipwreck – 28 Jan. 1825, the Britannia 120, bearing the flag of Sir Jas. Saumarez at Plymouth – and 11 May in the same year (at his own request), his former ship the Maidstone, then on the coast of Africa. While attached to the Coast Blockade (with his name on the books of the Severn 50, Capt. Wm. M‘Cullooh) he fell, during a dark night, over a cliff, 40 feet high, and, although armed with a sword and a brace of pistols, escaped, we believe, without injury. He was nominated, 9 May, 1826, Acting-Lieutenant of the Esk 20, Capt. Wm. Jardine Purchas, on the coast of Africa; and was confirmed to that vessel 25 Aug. following. He invalided in Nov. of the same year, and has since been on half-pay.
From 1827 until 1830, Lieut. Tom was engaged in mining operations at the Brazils. He married, 17 Nov. 1835, Emina Mary, eldest daughter of Lieut.-Colonel Vallack, late of the Royal Marines, by whom he has issue a son and daughter.