A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Tomlinson, Nicholas Robinson

1975834A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Tomlinson, Nicholas RobinsonWilliam Richard O'Byrne

TOMLINSON. (Lieutenant, 1810.)

Nicholas Robinson Tomlinson is son of the late Commander Robt. Tomlinson, R.N.;[1] and nephew of the late Vice-Admiral Nicholas Tomlinson.

This officer obtained his commission 16 Jan. 1810. His last appointment was to the Hazard 16, Capt. John Cookesley, in which vessel he served on the Newfoundland station, as First-Lieutenant, from 14 Jan. 1814 until Dec. 1816. Agents – Burnett and Holmes.


  1. Commander Robt. Tomlinson was present in Rodney’s action 12 April, 1 782, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 26 of the same month. While commanding the Speedwell hired armed vessel, he captured, in Oct. 1797, the privateers Les Amis and Le Telemachus, was in company with the Valiant lugger at the taking of L’Espérance and Le Speculateur; each of 14 guns, and, in Feb. 1801, engaged and beat off a Spanish flotilla. In Feb. 1805 he was appointed to the Dexterous gun-brig; and on 11 Sept. following, having fallen in with a convoy under the protection of eight heavily-armed Spanish vessels, he not only made prize of seven of the merchantmen, but actually cut off and secured a gun-boat, mounting 1 long 24-pounder and 1 carronade with a complement of 30 men. He continued in the Dexterous until advanced to the rank of Commander 15 June 1814. He died 9 June, 1844, aged 85.