Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Deas, David
DEAS, Sir DAVID (1807–1876), naval medical officer, son of Francis Deas, provost of Falkland, Fifeshire, who died in 1857, by his marriage with Margaret, daughter of David Moyes, was born at Falkland in September 1807, educated at the high school and university of Edinburgh, and having become a licentiate of the College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1827, entered the royal navy 7 June 1828 as an assistant-surgeon. He saw much service, and was promoted to be a surgeon 2 July 1836, and before his return to England in 1842 took part in the operations on the coast of Syria. He was advanced to the rank of deputy-inspector of hospitals and fleets 24 June 1854, and in the Britannia was present at the engagement with the sea defences of Sebastopol on 17 Oct. On 1 March 1855 he was gazetted inspector-general and served in the Royal Albert until the conclusion of the war with Russia. From June 1857 until 1859 he had medical charge of the fleet on the coast of China, and his attention to the sick and wounded at the capture of Canton 28–9 Dec. 1857 gained for him especial mention (London Gazette, 1858, p. 1024). He continued in active service until March 1872, when he was placed on the retired list. He was created C.B. 5 Feb. 1856, K.C.B. 13 March 1867, and awarded a good-service pension 11 April 1869. He held the Syrian medal, the Crimean medal with Sebastopol clasp, and the Turkish medal, was a knight of the Legion of Honour, and wore the order of the Medjidie of the fourth class. His death took place at the residence of his brother, Sir George Deas (Lord Deas), 32 Heriot Row, Edinburgh, 15 Jan. 1876, and he was buried in the Warriston cemetery, Edinburgh, on 19 Jan. He married in July 1860 Margaret, daughter of William Hepburn, who survived him.
[Times, 17 Jan. 1876, p. 6, and 8 Feb. p. 4; Annual Register, 1876, p. 129; Illustrated London News, 22 Jan. 1876, p. 95; O'Byrne (1861 ed.), p. 292.]