A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Whinyates, Thomas
WHINYATES. (Rear-Admiral, 1846.)
Thomas Whinyates is son of Thos. Whinyates, Esq., by Catharine, daughter of the late Admiral Sir Thos. Frankland, Bart.; and brother of Colonel E. C. Whinyates, K.H., K.A., of Major F. W. Whinyates, R.E., and of Colonel F. F. Whinyates, E.I.Co.’s Horse Artillery. He is first cousin of Rear-Admiral Wm. Bowles, C.B., of Capts. E. A. and C. C. Frankland, R.N., and of Capt. H. and Lieut. C. Gosset, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy in 1793, obtained his first commission 7 Sept. 1799, and was promoted to the rank of Commander 16 May, 1805. After having for some time commanded the Zebra bomb, he was appointed, in March, 1807, to the Frolic, a new brig of 384 tons, mounting 16 32-pounder carronades and 2 long sixes; in which vessel he proceeded, in the course of the same year, to the West Indies. On 18 Oct. 1812, while on his passage home with convoy, he fell in with, and, at the end of an action of 50 minutes, was captured by, the U.S. sloop-of-war Wasp, Capt. Jacob Jones, measuring 434 tons, and armed with 16 32-pounder carronades and 2 brass long 12-pounders, exclusive of 2 brass 4-pounders. The Frolic, before the contest, had been severely damaged in a gale. Her crew, debilitated in health, consisted of 92 men (including one passenger, an invalided soldier) and 18 boys; while the crew of the Wasp amounted to as many as 135 able-bodied men and 3 boys. The British in the action sustained a loss of 15 seamen and marines killed, and their Commander, two Lieutenants (one of them mortally), the Master, mortally, and 43 seamen and marines, wounded; the Americans of 8 killed and about the same number wounded. On the same day the Wasp was herself captured and the Frolic retaken by the Poictiers 74, Capt. John Poo Beresford; who allowed Capt. Whinyates (so “decidedly gallant” did he esteem the conduct he had displayed) to continue in command of his brig until she reached Bermuda. The court-martial, which assembled afterwards to try him, declared that he had done all that could be done in her defence, and most honourably acquitted him. He was advanced to Post-rank by a commission bearing date 12 Aug. 1812; and was placed on the list of Retired Rear-Admirals 1 Oct. 1846. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.