A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Whitaker, Thomas
WHITAKER. (Commander, 1840. f-p., 12; h-p., 32.)
Thomas Whitaker entered the Navy, 6 Aug. 1803, as Midshipman, on board the Melpomène 38, Capt. Robt. Dudley Oliver; with whom, and with Capts. Wm. Lukin and Jas. Katon, he served in the Mars 74, from Nov. 1805 until made Lieutenant, 22 Dec. 1809, into the Kent 74, Capt. Thos. Rogers – the latter part of the time in the capacity of Master’s Mate. In the Melpomène he twice assisted at the bombardment of Havre-de-Grace, and cruized among the Western Islands. In the Mars he contributed, 28 July, 1806, to the capture, off the coast of France, after a chase of more than 150 miles, and in the presence of three other French frigates, of Le Rhin of 44 guns and 318 men. He was also present with a squadron under Sir Sam. Hood at the capture, off Rochefort, 25 Sept. following, of four heavy frigates, two of which, the Gloire 46 and Infatigdble 44, struck to the Mars; and, besides assisting at the siege of Copenhagen in Aug. and Sept. 1807, was actively employed in affording protection to the Baltic trade. On one occasion, while skylarking in the cockpit, he had the misfortune, by a biscuit being thrown at him, to be deprived of the sight of an eye. During the period of his servitude in the Kent, which ship he left in Jan. 1813, he was stationed off Lisbon and in the Mediterranean, and shared, in 1812, in one or two slight skirmishes with the Toulon fleet. His last appointment was, in Sept. 1813, to the Queen 74, successive flag-ship of Sir Fras. Laforey and Sir Chas. Vinicombe Penrose, under whom he was two years employed in the West Indies and again in the Mediterranean. He was advanced to the rank he now holds by a commission bearing date 13 June, 1815.
Commander Whitaker is married and has issue.