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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Smith, Thomas (a)

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1948781A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Smith, Thomas (a)William Richard O'Byrne

SMITH. (Captain, 1825.)

Thomas Smith (a) died 19 Sept. 1847, at Louvain, in Belgium.

This officer entered the Navy, in 1800, as Fst.-Cl. Vol., on board the Nemesis 28, Capt. Thos. Baker, with whom, deducting some time passed during the peace of Amiens in the Thunderer 74, Capt. Wm. Bedford, he continued to serve in the Downs and Channel as Midshipman in the Phoebe 36 and Phoenix of 42 guns and 245 men until about 1805. He was present in the Nemesis, 25 July, 1800, in a smart conflict of 25 minutes, which terminated in the capture of the Danish frigate Freija; and in the Phoenix [errata 1], prior to sharing in Sir Rich. Strachan’s action, he assisted, 10 Aug. 1605, at the capture, after a memorable and furious conflict, in which the British lost 12 killed and 28 wounded, and the enemy 27 killed and 44 wounded, of La Didon of 46 guns and 330 men, a remarkably fine frigate, and the fastest sailer in the French Navy. Becoming attached, in Oct. 1806, to the Ajax 74, Capt. Hon. Henry Blackwood, Mr. Smith was in that ship when she took fire and was destroyed off’ the island of Tenedos 14 Feb. 1807. He was received in consequence on board the Pompée 74, bearing the flag of Sir Wm. Sidney Smith, under whom during the ensuing expedition to Constantinople he contributed to the destruction of a Turkish squadron and a formidable redoubt at Point Pesquies. He was made Lieutenant, 1 Sept. following, into the Hibernia 120, Capt. Chas. Marsh Schomberg; and was next, in March and Sept. 1808, appointed, on the Home station, to the Warspite 74, Capt. Hon. H. Blackwood, and Lyra sloop, Capt. Wm. Bevians. On 12 April, 1809, while in command of a boat belonging to the latter vessel and engaged in burning the enemy’s ships in Aix Roads, he was captured by two national luggers. He was detained a prisoner in France during the remainder of the war. Soon after his return to England he was advanced, 15 June, 1814, to the rank of Commander, and he was subsequently, from 6 May until 12 Aug. 1815, and from 1 Jan. 1817 until 1 March, 1819, employed in that capacity in the Pincher and Cherokee sloops on the Leith station. He did not afterwards go afloat. He was promoted to Post-rank 16 Aug. 1825. Agents – Holmes and Folkard.


  1. Original: Phoebe was amended to Phoenix : detail