Royal Naval Biography/Tom, Robert Brown
ROBERT BROWN TOM, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1810.]
Entered the navy in 1781, as a midshipman on board the Royal George, a first rate, bearing the flag of Sir John Lockhart Ross, Bart, commander-in-chief on the North Sea station; from which ship he removed to the Ocean of 90 guns, and, in her, was present at the relief of Gibraltar, by Lord Howe, 1782.
After the peace of 1783, Mr. Tom successively joined the Assistance 50, flag-ship of Sir Charles Douglas; Thisbe 28, Echo 16, Fly 16, Tisiphone 12, and Amphitrite 24; from which latter ship he was promoted into the Conflagration fire-vessel, at Toulon, in Nov. 1793.
During the operations against Calvi, Mr. Tom served on shore as a volunteer; the Conflagration having been burnt at the evacuation of Toulon. From Corsica he returned home passenger in the Aquilon frigate; and we subsequently find him serving upwards of five years as second Lieutenant of the Polyphemus 64, bearing the flag of the late Sir Robert Kingsmill, Bart, on the Irish station.
Lieutenant Tom’s next appointment was to be first of the Glatton 54, in which ship he assisted at the capture and destruction of the Danish line of defence before Copenhagen, April 2, 1801 . The Glatton’s loss on that occasion amounted to 18 killed and 37 wounded. His promotion to the rank of Commander took place on the 27th of the same month.
During the late war. Captain Tom successively commanded the Royalist defence ship, stationed in the Downs; the Gorgon 44, employed as an hospital-ship in the Baltic; and the Castilian brig, of 18 guns, from which vessel he was posted, Oct. 21, 1810.
Agent.– J. Hinxman, Esq.