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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Leigh, Thomas

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1801899A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Leigh, ThomasWilliam Richard O'Byrne

LEIGH. (Commander, 1835. f-p., 22; h-p., 21.)

Thomas Leigh died in 1846.

This officer entered the Navy, 3 June, 1803, as a. Volunteer, on board the Conqueror 74, Capts Thos. Louis and Israel Pellew; under the latter of whom, after pursuing the combined squadrons of France and Spain to the West Indies and back, he shared in the action off Cape Trafalgar 21 Oct. 1805. Being discharged from the Conqueror in Jan. 1806, he served during the next eight years, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, in the Melampus 36, Capts. Stephen Poyntz and Edw. Hawker, Porgey schooner, Lieut.-Commander Hugh Goold, Bellona 74, Capt. John Erskine Douglas, Pilot 18, Capt. John Toup Nicolas, Royal George 100, flag-shjp of Rear-Admiral Fras. Pickmore, and Impétueux, Stately, and Rodney, bearing each the flag of Vice-Admiral Geo. Martin, on the North American, Home, Mediterranean, and Lisbon stations. While in the Pilot, Mr. Leigh served, 25 July, 1810, in her boats, with those of the Thames 32, and Weasel 18, and was officially alluded to for his conduct, at the very gallant capture and destruction, near Amanthea, notwithstanding a most spirited opposition, of 31 transports, seven large gun-boats, and five armed vessels.[1] He was confirmed a Lieutenant, 26 Jan. 1814, in the Bristol troop-ship, Capt. Geo. Wyndham, employed in the Channel and off Lisbon, and was subsequently appointed – in the course of 1815, to the Havock 12, Capt. Geo. Truscott, Rifleman 16, Capts. Henry Edw. Napier and Geo. Bennet Allen, and Vengeur 74, Capt. Thos. Alexander, all on the Home station, where he served, until superseded from ill health in May, 1818 – and, 4 Dec. 1827, to the Coast Guard. He left that service, on attaining the rank of Commander, 23 June, 1835; and remained thenceforward on half-pay. Agents – Coplands and Burnett.


  1. Vide Gaz. 1810, p. 1860.