A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Pasley, Thomas Sabine

1867937A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Pasley, Thomas SabineWilliam Richard O'Byrne

PASLEY, Bart. (Capt., 1831. f-p., 15; h-p., 15.)

Sir Thomas Sabine Pasley, born 26 Dec. 1804, is only son of the late Major John Sabine, of the Grenadier Guards, by Maria, eldest daughter of the late Admiral Sir Thos. Pasley, Bart.;[1] in pursuance of whose will he assumed, in 1809, the surname and arms of Pasley, instead of those of his paternal family, Sabine. One of the Baronet’s maternal grand-aunts was the mother of the present Vice-Admiral Sir Chas. Malcolm, Kt., and another of Vice-Admiral Sir Thos. Briggs, G.C.M.G.

This officer entered the Royal Naval College, 7 Aug. 1817; and embarked, 20 Dec. 1818, as a Volunteer, on board the Rochfort 80, Capts. Andrew Pellett Green and Chas. Marsh Schomberg, successive flag-ship of Vice-Admirals Sir Thos. Fras. Fremantle and Sir Graham Moore in the Mediterranean; where, in June, 1821, and Oct. 1822, he was lent, as Midshipman, for a few months, to the Larne 20, Capt. Robt. Tait, and Euryalus 42, Capt. Augustus Wm. Jas. Clifford. He left the Rochfort in Oct. 1823; and, after having intermediately served on board the Redpole 10, Capt. Rich. Anderson, and Arachne 18, Capt. Henry Ducie Chads, he was advanced, 16 March, 1824, to the rank of Lieutenant. His succeeding appointments were – 17 April, 1824, to the Tweed 28, Capt. Fred. Hunn, with whom he sailed for South America – 25 Aug. following, as Senior, to the Éclair 18, commanded on that station by Capt. Thos. Bourchier – 13 June, 1827 (having been on half-pay since July, 1825), to the Fairy 10, Capt. Geo. Wm. Conway Courtenay, fitting for the West Indies – and, 6 June, 1828, to the Asia 84, as Flag-Lieutenant to Sir Pulteney Malcolm in the Mediterranean. Being awarded a second promotal commission, dated 17 Sept. 1828, he successively assumed command, also on the Mediterranean station – 31 Oct. following, of the Camelion 10 – 30 Nov. 1829, of the Procris 10 – in May, 1830, as Acting-Captain, of the Rattlesnake 28 – and in Nov. 1830, in a similar capacity, of the Blonde 46. On the paying off of the latter ship he was confirmed in his present rank 24 May, 1831. His next and last appointment was, 22 Feb. 1843, to the Curaçoa 24, in which vessel he served on the S.E. coast of America, until superseded in Jan. 1846.

Sir Thos. Sabine Pasley married, 10 June, 1826, Jane Matilda Lilly, eldest daughter of the Rev. Montagu John Wynyard, rector of Wesh Rounton, and of St. Martin’s, Micklegate, Yorkshire, by whom he has issue seven sons and two daughters. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.


  1. Sir Thos. Pasley was born 2 March, 1734. After having served his time as Midshipman in various parts of the globe under Capts. Willett, Cockburn, Webber, and Digby, he was invested with, the rank of Acting-Lieutenant, and sent with Capt. Digby on the unfortunate expedition against Rochefort. Being confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant on his return to England, he was next, until 1762, employed in that capacity on board the Roman Emperor fire-ship, and Hussar and Aeolus frigates. In the latter vessel he distinguished himself at the capture, 19 March, 1759, of La Mignonne of 20 guns; and also, when, in company with the Brilliant and Pallas of 36 guns each, at the taknig, 28 Feb. 1760, after a fierce contest, of the French frigates Belleisle, Blonde, and Terpsichore. On leaving the Aeolus, as above, he was advancea to the rank of Commander; and in 1771, after having had command of the Albany and Weasel sloops, he attained Post-rank. He subsequently served in the Seahorse 20, Glasgow, Sibylle 28, Jupiter 50, and Bellerophon 74. In the Jupiter he was present, in 1781, in the encounter between Commodore Johnstone and M. de Suffrein in Porto Praya Bay. From 1788 until his appointment to the Bellerophon in 1793, Capt. Pasley held the chief command, with the rank of Commodore, of the ships lying in the river Medway. Being advanced, in April, 1794, to the rank of Rear-Admiral, and appointed to a command in Lord Howe’s fleet, he enacted, with his flag in the Bellerophon 74, a very signal and important part in the famous actions of 28 and 29 May and 1 June. On the latter occasion he lost a leg. He had the satisfaction, however, of being raised for his services to the dignity of a Baronet, and of receiving, with the thanks of Parliament, a pension of 1000l. a-year; he was also presented, by the Patriotic Societv, with a pair of goblets valued at 500l. He became a Vice-Admiral 1 June, 17!t5; was afterwards, in 1798 and 1799, appointed Commander-in-Chief in the Medway, and Port- Admiral at Plymouth; and died an Admiral of the White 29 Nov. 1808.