Royal Navy. Commission assigning Captain Thomas Sparke Thomp...

Hammer

£45

Royal Navy. Commission assigning Captain Thomas Sparke Thompson to HMS Colossus. 22nd September 1856. Oblong vellum folio, partially printed with manuscript insertions. Signed by Captain Peter Richards, C.B. (Third Naval Lord), Captain Alexander Milne (Fourth Naval Lord) and one other, probably a secretary. With papered admiralty seal and revenue stamps to the left side margin, further inscribed in ink, ‘Vice Keppel to Raleigh’ at the bottom right-hand edge of the document. Captain Sparke Thomas’s naval career began in September 1810 as a Volunteer Second-Class onboard the Galatea (36) under the command of Captain Woodley Losack. He was present during the 20th May 1811 frigate action off Madagascar and the blockade of Cherbourg before joining the Akbar (50) as a Midshipman in 1813 under Captains Sir Collingwood Dickson and Charles Sullen. He was subsequently stationed in Brazilian, North American and home waters for four years before further service in the East Indies, North American coast, Channel, West Indies and African coast as Midshipman and Master’s Mate on the Phaeton (46) and the Maidstone (42). His African coastal service included extensive boat service on rivers, and Thomas was tragically witness to the drowning of an Assistant Surgeon and ten men at the entrance to Bonny River. Thomas was sent home due to deteriorating health after contracting a fever in the Bight of Benin, where he held several UK-based positions before later being posted as Junior Lieutenant on the Spartiate, First Lieutenant on the Charlotte and commanding the Tiger and the Quail. He took command of the Comus off the South Coast of America from 1844-46, during which time he blockaded the ports of Maldonado and the Buenos Ayres squadron and served as the Senior Officer in the Parana and Uruguay rivers, collaborating with the French squadron in various capacities. Notably, Thomas orchestrated the evacuation of distressed English and European individuals from Mercedes in the Rio Negro. He Captained the Colossus until 17th June 1857, when the vessel was paid off at Sheerness. He was placed on the Retired List as Rear-Admiral in 1864 and Vice-Admiral in 1871.