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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Toker, Thomas Richard

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1975113A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Toker, Thomas RichardWilliam Richard O'Byrne

TOKER. (Captain, 1813. f-p., 20; h-p., 32.)

Thomas Richard Toker died 27 June, 1846, at 8, Kent Terrace, Regent’s Park, in his 66th year. He was second son of the late John Toker, Esq., of the Oaks, Ospringe, co. Kent.

This officer entered the Navy, in July, 1794, as A.B., on board the Venerable 74, Capts. Sir John Orde and Wm. Johnstone Hope; from which ship (employed, latterly under the flag of Vice-Admiral Duncan, on the Home station) he removed as Midshipman, in May, 1795, to the Alcmène frigate, Capts. Wm. Brown, John Matthews, John Gore, John Newhouse, and Geo. Hope. In her he served for about three years in the North Sea and Channel and off Lisbon. He then joined in succession, on the Mediterranean and North Sea stations, the Defence 74, Capts. Wm. Brown, John Peyton, Thos. Stephenson, and Lord Henry Paulet (under the second named of whom he fought at the battle of the Nile 1 Aug. 1798), Foudroyant 80 and Vanguard 74, both commanded by Capt. Brown, and Waaksamheidt, Capt. David Atkins; and on 20 Dec. 1800 he was made Lieutenant into the Prince William hired armed ship, Capt. Thos. Richbell. His next appointments were – 17 Nov. 1801, to the Windsor Castle 98, flag-ship of Sir Andrew Mitchell, lying in Bantry Bay – in the course of 1802-3, to the Fisgard and Naiad frigates, both commanded by Capt. Jas. Wallis, and Leopard 50, Capts. Jas. Nicll Morris and Fras. Wm. Austen, employed at Plymouth and Bristol and oif Boulogne – and 3 March, 1804, to the Colossus 74, Capt. J. N. Morris. For his conduct as First-Lieutenant of the ship last mentioned at the battle of Trafalgar he was promoted to the rank of Commander 24 Dec. 1805. He obtained command, in Feb. and Dec. 1808 and Nov. 1813, of the Zebra, Cruizer,[1] and Penguin sloops, employed chiefly in the Baltic, off the coast of Scotland, and at Sheerness; he was advanced to Post-rank 4 Dec. 1813; and he was afterwards, in March and Nov. 1815 and Feb. 1817, appointed to the Tartarus 20, Perseus 22, and Tamar 28, the first stationed off the Scheldt and Ostend, the two others at Newfoundland. He invalided from the Tamar in Nov. 1818; and did not again go afloat. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.


  1. The Cruizer made prize, 31 May, 1809, of the Danish privateer schooner Christiansbourg of 6 guns, 3 of which were hove overboard during the chace, and a complement of 37 men, 13 of whom had been recently captured while cruizing in a small boat by another of H.M.’s ships.