courtesy of demeanour in the estimation of the natives of those remote countries, and of the world.” The King too, Kamehameha III., moved by gratitude, intimated a wish that the Rear-Admiral would sit for his portrait in full uniform, that his Majesty “might have and preserve in his palace the likeness of a British officer, who, in restoring to him his kingdom, dared to act on his own sense of right, counting upon the approval of his magnanimous Queen, in which he was not disappointed.” We may add, that the Rear-Admiral received the thanks of the government of the United States for his conduct relative to the American residents in the Sandwich Islands; and that he was elected an honorary memher of the American “Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.” Prior to his return home he was presented with an address from the British merchants at Valparaiso, expressive of their acknowledgments for the “ability and zeal he had displayed, and the firm, prudent, and conciliatory manner in which he had conducted many difficult questions, upholding the honour of the British flag, and maintaining peace and good understanding with the Chilian and foreign powers.”[1] He attained his present rank 8 Jan. 1848.
While serving in the Ordinary at Portsmouth the Vice-Admiral distinguished himself by his fearless exertions in subduing a fire which broke out, 18 Nov. 1823, at Drayton Farm, in the neighbourhood. He married, 2 Oct. 1827, Gratina, third daughter of the late Lieut.-General Robt. Williams, some time Colonel-Commandant of the Royal Marines at Stonehouse, and has issue a son and daughter.
THOMAS. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 11; h-p., 31.)
Robert Thomas entered the Navy, 11 Aug. 1805, as L.M., on board the Saturn 74, Capts. Lord Amelius Beauclerk and Wm. Cumberland. In that ship he continued employed, as Midshipman, off Cadiz and in the Channel and North Sea until May, 1809; from which period until promoted to his present rank, 8 Feb. 1815, he was again employed under the officer first mentioned, and the late Sir Pulteney Malcolm, in the Royal Oak 74. He took part in consequence in the attack upon Flushing, and after serving on various parts of the Home station, was ordered to the coast of North America, where he commanded a launch at the destruction of Commodore Barney’s flotilla up the Patuxent, landed in the unfortunate attack upon Baltimore, and, previously to uniting in the operations against New Orleans, assisted, as Acting-Lieutenant, in the boats of a squadron at the capture, on Lake Borgne, of five American gun-boats, under Commodore Jones, which did not surrender until the British, in the course of a severe conflict, had been occasioned a loss of 17 men killed and 77 wounded. From April to Oct. 1815 he was employed, still on the North American station, in the Dictator 64, Capt. Henry Montresor. He has since been on half-pay.
THOMAS. (Lieutenant, 1847.)
Robert Thomas passed his examination 11 March, 1845; and since 14 of the same month has been employed in the Terror, Capt. Fras. Rawdon Moira Crozier, in an attempt to ascertain the existence of a N.W. passage. His promotion to the rank of Lieutenant took place 24 April, 1847.
THOMAS. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 9; h-p., 33.)
Robert Strickland Thomas was born 18 Oct. 1787.
This officer entered the Navy, 8 Nov. 18015, as A.B., on board the Princess Charlotte 38, Capt. Geo. Tobin, employed at first on the West India station and next on the coast of Ireland; where he served as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, from March, 1807, until June, 1813, in the Brisk 18, Capts. John Coode and Eyles Mounsher. He then removed to the Créole 36, Capts. Robt. Forbes and Geo Chas. Mackenzie; and in that frigate, of which he was nominated Acting-Lieutenant 24 Jan. 1814, he assisted at the blockade of Cherbourg, and cruized off the coast of Africa. He was paid off in Nov. of the year last mentioned; and on 11 March, 1815, he was advanced to his present rank. Having lost the sense of hearing while serving on the coast of Africa, he has not been since able to seek employment.
THOMAS. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 11; h-p., 32.)
Robinson Thomas entered the Navy, 24 Oct. 1804, as a Supernumerary, on board the Triton 32, Capt. Wm. Cashman, lying at Waterford. He cruized afterwards on the coast of Ireland, as Midshipman, in the Helena sloop, Capts. Woodley Losack, Jas. Andrew Worth, and Henry Haynes; and, from Dec. 1810 until Oct. 1815, he was employed on the Mediterranean, North American, and Home stations, as Midshipman, Master’s Mate, and Admiralty Midshipman, in the Romulus troop-ship, Capts. Lord Balgonie and Geo. Wm. Henry Knight, San Domingo 74, flag-ship of Sir John Borlase Warren, Chatham 74, Capt. David Lloyd, Falmouth 20, Capts. G. W. H. Knight and Robt. Worgan Geo. Festing, and Brazen sloop, commanded by the present Sir Jas. Stirling. He then took up a commission bearing date 17 March, 1815; and has since been on half-pay.
Lieut. Thomas married, 4 Feb. 1840, Sarah, daughter of J. P. Murphy, Esq., of Stratford, co. Essex.
THOMAS. (Retired Commander, 1842. f-p., 13; h-p., 42.)
Thomas Thomas was born at Caermarthen, in Wales. He is brother of M. Thomas, Esq., Deputy Inspector-General of the Ordnance Medical Department at Woolwich; and of the late Lieut. Jas. Thomas, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 15 Sept. 1792, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Europa 50, hearing the broad pendant of Commodore Ford at Jamaica. In 1794 he removed, as Midshipman, to the Active 38; and in that frigate and the Arethusa 38, both commanded by Capt. Thos. Wolley, he served in the North Sea, at Newfoundland, and in the West Indies and Channel until made Lieutenant, 5 Jan. 1799, into the Camilla 20, Capt. Robt. Larkan. In the Arethusa he assisted at the reduction of Ste. Lucie in May, 1796, co-operated also in the suppression of an insurrection among the Caribs in the islands of St. Vincent and Grenada, and after contributing to the conquest of Trinidad and the destruction there of a Spanish squadron was present, 10 Aug. 1797, in an action of thirty minutes, which terminated in the surrender of La Gaieté French corvette of 20 long 8-pounders and 186 men. In the Camilla Mr. Thomas was employed, until April, 1802, on the West India, Home, and Newfoundland stations. In Dec. 1802 the ship was struck by a heavy sea, which carried away her mizen-mast and main-yard, and rendered it necessary that half her guns should be thrown overboard; yet, in this state, she engaged and beat off a French corvette of 22 guns. Mr. Thomas at the time was First-Lieutenant. His last appointments were – 29 Sept. 1803, to the Dart, Capt. Brownrigg, in the North Sea – and 3 June, 1805, and 11 Oct. 1806, to the Loire 38 and Volontaire 38, both commanded by Capt. Fred. Lewis Maitland. He was Senior of the Loire when, in company with the Egyptienne frigate, she made prize, 24 Dec. 1805, off Rochefort, of La Libre of 40 guns and 280 men. After he left the Volontaire in Nov. 1806 he did not go afloat. He became a Retired Commander on the Junior List 26 Nov. 1830; and on the Senior 10 Nov. 1842.
He married, in 1808, Jane, sister of the late Lieut.-Colonel Morgan, of the Royal Glamorgan Militia; and has issue. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.
- ↑ He elicited also the thanks of the government of Chili for the spontaneous assistance he afforded with the officers and crew of the Dublin and Basilisk ketch, on the occasion ot an alannmg conflagration at Valparaiso in July, 1844.
