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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Simonds, Richard Smith

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1942951A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Simonds, Richard SmithWilliam Richard O'Byrne

SIMONDS. (Lieut., 1812. f-p., 11; h-p., 33.)

Richard Smith Simonds was born 9 July, 1788, at Islington, co. Middlesex.

This officer entered the Navy, 25 June, 1803, as a Volunteer, on board the Defence 74, Capt. Geo. Hope, in which ship, after serving for about 15 months in the North Sea, he proceeded off Cadiz, then pursued the combined squadrons of France and Spain to the West Indies, and, on his return, fought at Trafalgar. In Dec. 1805 he removed as Midshipman (a rating he had attained about May, 1804,) to the Sparrow 16, Capt. Hon. Wm. Pakenham, lying at Sheerness. He next, in May, 1806, joined the Antelope 50, Capts. Henry Bazely and Edw. Galwey; under the former of whom we find him employed in the Downs in escorting the East India trade to and from St. Helena, and in conveying the Earl of Caledon and suite to the Cape of Good Hope. Under Capt. Galwey he was for some time stationed off Oporto, where he was daily in the habit of landing, and witnessed the arrival of the first detachment of British troops. In April, 1809, he was transferred to the Caledonia 120, flag-ship in the Channel of Admirals Lord Gambier, Fras. Pickmore, and Sir Harry Burrard Neale; by the last mentioned of whom (having passed his examination 4 Oct. 1809) he was nominated, 27 Aug. 1810, Acting-Lieutenant of the Courageux 74, Capt. Wm. Butterfield. While on the books of the Caledonia he was lent, with the greater part of the crew, to the Spencer 74, for the purpose of accompanying the expedition to the Scheldt, where he took an active part in all the operations, and was constantly detached on boat-service. On rejoining the Caledonia, in which ship, deducting four months passed on board the Courageux, he continued until May, 1811, he united in the defence of Cadiz, assisted in carrying powder to Fort Matagorda, and was once very nearly taken prisoner. He contributed also to the cutting out of two brigs under a battery on the coast of France; on which occasion the Marines spiked the enemy’s guns and brought off a small brass field-piece. Besides being otherwise actively employed in her boats, he aided in the Caledonia in preventing the escape of four French frigates from Rochefort. In the course of 1811-12 he was received in succession on board the Christian VII. 80, Impregnable 98, and Victory 100, bearing the flags, off Flushing and in the Baltic, of Admirals Wm. Young and Sir Jas. Saumarez. From July in the latter year until promoted by the Admiralty to his present rank, 20 Nov. following, he served as Acting-Lieutenant with the flotilla under Capt. Hew Steuart at the defence of Riga, and accompanied during that period a highly-successful expedition against the French and Prussians at Mittau, on the river Aa. His last appointment was, for a few months in 1813, to the York 74, Capt. Alex. Wilmot Schomberg, attached to the Flushing fleet.