A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Matson, Richard
MATSON. (Admiral of the Blue, 1847. f-p., 21; h-p., 43.)
Richard Matson is son of the late John Matson, Esq., Chief Justice and Governor of Dominica; uncle of Commander Henry Jas. Matson, R.N.; and cousin of Commander Geo. Wm. Matson, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 20 March, 1783, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Irresistible 74, bearing the broad pendant at Chatham of Sir Andrew Snape Hamond; and was afterwards, between 1786 and* Jan. 1793, employed, in the capacities of Midshipman and Master’s Mate, in the Solebay 32, Capt. John Holloway, Jupiter 50, Commodore Wm. Parker, Solebay again, Capt. Wm. Squire, and Hermione 32, Capt. John Hills, on the West India and Home stations. He then joined the Britannia 100, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Wm. Hotham in the Mediterranean; where, in the course of the same and the following year, he served on shore at the occupation ot Toulon, was publicly thanked by Sir Wm. Sidney Smith for his conduct at the destruction of the arsenal and fleet in the harbour of that place,[1] and was present at the sieges of St. Fiorenza and Bastia. Being made Lieutenant, 15 Oct. 1794, into the Bedford 74, Capts. Davidge Gould and Augustus Montgomery, he was afforded an opportunity of sharing, under the former of those officers, in Hotham’s partial actions of 14 March and 13 July, 1795. After a servitude of nearly two years on the Lisbon, Mediterranean, Cape of Good Hope, and West India stations, in the Sybille and Daphne frigates, Capts. Edw. Cooke and Jas. Brisbane, Tamar 38, Capt. Thos. Byam Martin, and Prince of Wales 98, flagship of Vice-Admiral Henry Harvey, he was promoted, 22 Sept. 1797, to the command of the Beaver sloop, also in the West Indies; where he removed, in May, 1798, to the Cyane 18, and was posted, 22 March, 1799, into the Daphne 20. He returned to England in April, 1802; and was subsequently appointed – 2 Sept. 1807 and 9 April, 1808, to the San Ysidoro and Braave 40, lying at Plymouth – and 16 June, 1808, to the Sea Fencible service between North Shields and St. Abb’s Head. He has been on half-pay since Feb. 1810. He became a Rear-Admiral 27 May, 1825; a Vice-Admiral 10 Jan. 1837; and a full Admiral 26 June, 1847. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1794, p. 44.