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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Thelwall, Bevis

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1969633A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Thelwall, BevisWilliam Richard O'Byrne

THELWALL. (Retired Commander, 1844. f-p., 12; h-p., 38.)

Bevis Thelwall is fourth and youngest son of the Rev. Edw. Thelwall, of Llanbedr, co. Denbigh, by Mary Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. John Baldwyn, of Hoole, co. Chester, and of Harrock, co. Lancaster. His family is one of the oldest, of English extraction, in North Wales.

This officer entered the Navy, 1 June, 1797, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Racoon sloop, Capt. Robt. Lloyd, stationed in the Downs, where he assisted as Midshipman at the capture of several of the enemy’s privateers. After serving for a few months with Capt. Hon. Chas. Paget in the Penelope 36, in which frigate he escorted Lord and Lady Hugh Seymour to Madeira, he followed that officer, in the spring of 1799, into the Brilliant 28. During the nest two years he was employed, latterly under Capt. Hon. Philip Wodehouse, in cruizing among the Western Isles, on the banks of Newfoundland, and off the coast of Portugal. In Aug. 1800 he was present at the cutting-out, from Vigo Bay, of La Guêpe French privateer of 18 guns and 161 men. He again, in April, 1801, joined Capt. Paget, as Master’s Mate, a rating he had already attained, on board the Hydra 38, and (with the exception of a few months during which the Hydra was commanded by Capt. Geo. Mundy) he continued to serve with him in the same ship and in the Endymion 40, on the Lisbon, Mediterranean, and Home stations until July, 1806. In the Hydra he was for some time in attendance upon Geo. III. off Weymouth; and in the Endymion he contributed to the capture of La Bacchante corvette of 18 guns (pierced for 22) and 200 men, L’Adour store-ship, pierced for 20 guns, Le Général Moreau privateer of 16 guns and 85 men, several richly-laden Spanish merchantmen, and La Colombe French corvette of 16 guns. In Oct. 1806 (he had been for some time Acting-Lieutenant of the Endymion) he obtained charge of a watch on board the Fortunée 36, Capt. Henry Vansittart, on the Channel station; where he was made Lieutenant, 25_ Aug. 1807, into the Achille 74, Capt. Sir Rich. King. He left that ship in July, 1808; and was lastly, from May, 1809, until he invalided in Feb. 1810 from the effects of Walcheren fever, employed in the Venerable 74, Capt. Andrew King, under whom he took part in the various operations connected with the expedition to the Scheldt. He accepted the rank he now holds 11 Jan. 1844.

Commander Thelwall married Mary Elizabeth, second daughter of Lewis Buckle, Esq., of Rogate Lodge, co. Sussex, by whom he has issue four sons and one daughter. His youngest son, Enbull Daysh Thelwall, is a Second-Lieutenant R.M. (1848.)