Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Withers, Thomas
WITHERS, THOMAS (1769–1843), captain in the navy, son of Thomas Withers, yeoman, of Knapton, North Walsham, Norfolk, and Priscilla his wife, was baptised on 17 Sept. 1769. On 4 June 1779 he was admitted one of the nautical scholars of Christ's Hospital, where he continued for upwards of six years, though for part of the time (14 July 1781–31 Jan. 1784) he was borne on the books of the Grana as servant of the purser, Joseph Withers, presumably his uncle. On 1 Dec. 1785 he was discharged from Christ's Hospital and bound apprentice to Richard Harding, commander of the East India Company's ship Kent, for a term of seven years ‘unless his majesty should require his last year's service’ (information from Christ's Hospital per Mr. W. Lempriere). In May 1793 he entered on board the Agamemnon, then newly commissioned by Captain Horatio (afterwards Viscount) Nelson [q. v.], to whom his North Walsham connection had probably introduced him. In the Agamemnon Withers continued as midshipman, schoolmaster, and master's mate till July 1796, when he followed Nelson to the Captain. During this time he had seen much exceptional service; had been landed at Bastia and Calvi; had been wounded at Oneglia on 29 Aug. 1795, and been captured at Vado in November (Nicolas, Nelson Despatches, ii. 77, 111). On the day after the battle of Cape St. Vincent he was made lieutenant into the prize-ship Salvador del Mundo (15 Feb. 1797, confirmed 22 March). From February 1798 to December 1800 he was serving in the Terrible in the Channel, with Sir Richard Hussey Bickerton [q. v.], as afterwards in the Kent in the Mediterranean and on the coast of Egypt till August 1802, when he was made acting commander of the expedition. The commission was confirmed on 11 April 1803. For a few months in the end of 1804 he commanded the Tartarus sloop in the Channel, and in 1805 was appointed agent for transports to the Elbe and Weser. In this service he continued: in Sicily, the Ionian Islands, and Alexandria, 1806–7; Halifax and Martinique, 1808–10. During 1810–16 he was principal agent in the Mediterranean—coast of Spain and Italy. He was made post-captain on 13 May 1809. After the war he had no service, and lived in retirement at North Walsham till his death on 4 July 1843.
[Marshall's Royal Naval Biogr. v. (Suppl. pt. ii.), 476; Service-book in the Public Record Office; Gent. Mag. 1843, ii. 435.]