Xebiles, Castro, St. Ano, Guetaria, Santander, Santa Clara, and St. Sebastian. In the Leander he came several times into action with the enemy on the coast of North America. After he left the Nautilus he did not go afloat. Agents – Collier and Snee.
RICHMOND. (Lieutenant, 1822.)
Thomas Richmond was made Lieutenant, 6 May, 1822, into the Bustard 10, Capt. Jas. Wigston, on the Jamaica station; and was afterwards appointed – 2 Sept. 1824, to the Owen Glendower 42, Commodore Hood Hanway Christian, with whom he remained for upwards of three years at the Cape of Good Hope – 19 Nov. 1828, to the Coast Blockade, in which service he continued employed, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Ramillies and Talavera 74’s, both commanded by Capt. Hugh Pigot, until the early part of 1831 – 9 March, 1832, in the capacity last mentioned, to the Isis 50, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Fred. Warren at the Cape of Good Hope – and 22 May following, to the Badger mooring-vessel on that station, Capt. Geo. Fuller Stow. He has been on half-pay since the summer of 1833.
Lieut. Richmond is married and has issue.
RICKETTS. (Lieut., 1809. f-p., 18; h-p., 34.)
Charles Spencer Ricketts entered the Navy, 4 April, 1795, as A.B., on board the Mutine cutter, commanded in the Mediterranean by Lieuts. West and Shepherd. In Oct. 1797 he removed to the Princess Royal 98, bearing the flag of Sir John Orde off Cadiz; and in Sept. 1798 he became Midshipman of the Speedy brig, of 14 4-pounders, Capts. Jahleel Brenton and Lord Cochrane. Under Capt. Brenton he contributed, 9 Aug. 1799, to the capture, after a warm action of great length fought in a small bay near Cape de Gatt, of three vessels, mounting in the whole 22 guns, 6 and 9 pounders. He was with the same officer at the destruction, 3 Oct. following, of four coasting-vessels anchored under a fort and castle in a bay to the eastward of Cape Trafalgar; and also when, unaided, he defeated and put to flight, near Gibraltar, 6 Nov. 1799, two Spanish schooners, each carrying 2 long 24-pounders and 50 men, 10 other vessels of 1 24- pounder and 40 men each, and a French xebec privateer of 8 guns. Under the gallant Cochrane Mr. Ricketts took part in a series of operations against the enemy unparalleled for activity and success. Within the space of 14 months he aided at the taking, by the Speedy alone, of 33 vessels, carrying all together 128 guns and 533 men; and on 6 May, 1801, he had the honour of assisting at the evermemorable capture of the Spanish frigate El Gamo of 32 heavy guns and 319 men; which ship, after a close cannonade of 45 minutes, was boarded and carried with irresistible heroism by Lord Cochrane at the head of 40 men. The British, whose number consisted originally of 54, sustained a loss of 3 killed and 8 wounded; the enemy of 15 killed and 41 wounded. On 3 July following the Speedy was herself captured by a French squadron under M. Linois, but not until she had exhausted every means of escape, and had behaved in a manner so conspicuous that Lord Cochrane’s sword, on his surrender, was immediately returned to him. Being restored to liberty in the course of the same month, Mr. Ricketts was at once received on board the Caesar 80, commanded (as flag-ship to Sir Jas. Saumarez off Cadiz) by his friend Capt. Brenton; with whom he returned home in April, 1802, in the Santa Dorotea frigate. Rejoining him, in the ensuing Dec, on board La Minerve of 48 guns, he was in that ship, 2 July, 1803, when she took the ground under the batteries of Cherbourg, and was compelled, despite a fierce and sanguinary resistance, to strike her colours. In consequence of this misfortune he was for upwards of six years detained a captive in France. During that period he twice attempted to effect his escape – the first time from a prison in the citadel of Valenciennes, the second from a dungeon at Hirson. On being at length set at large, he was promoted, 14 Dec. 1809, to the rank of Lieutenant, and appointed to the Vanguard 74, Capt. Henry Richard Glynn; in which ship and in the Sparrow sloop, Capt. Joseph Needham Tayler, and Theseus 74, Capt. Brown, he continued employed on the Baltic and Home stations until the peace. He has since been on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.
RICKETTS, Bart. (Captain, 1846. f-p., 15; h-p., 16.)
Sir Cornwallis Ricketts, born 27 Feb. 1803, is eldest son of the late Vice-Admiral of the Blue Sir Tristram Robt. Ricketts, Bart.,[1] by Rebecca Eliza, daughter of John Gumbleton, Esq., of Glencairne Abbey, co. Waterford; and brother (with Lieutenant S. H. Ricketts, R.N.) of St. Vincent Wm. Ricketts, Esq., a Major in the Scotch Greys, who married a grand-daughter of the fifth Earl of Berkeley. His uncle, Gilbert Ricketts, Esq., married a daughter of Admiral Rodney Bligh.
This officer entered the Royal Naval College, 9 Aug. 1816; and embarked, 10 June, 1818, as a Volunteer, on board the Tiber 38, Capt. Jas. Rich. Dacres, stationed in the Channel. Between the following Oct. and the date of his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant 20 March, 1823, he served on the West India, Mediterranean, Lisbon, and Home stations, as Midshipman, in the Liffey 50, Capt. Hon. Henry Duncan, Phaeton 46, Capt. Wm. Augustus Montagu, Apollo yacht, Capt. Hon. Sir Chas. Paget, and Calliope tender. His succeeding appointments were – in April, 1824, for about two years, to the Sappho 18, Capts. Wm. Hotham and Wm. Pitt Canning, on the Halifax station – and in Aug. 1828 and April, 1830, to the Asia 84 and Britannia 120, flag-ships in the Mediterranean of Sir Pulteney Malcolm. After officiating for about two years and 10 months as Flag-Lieutenant to the officer last mentioned, he was advanced, 18 Aug. 1831, to the rank of Commander. His last appointment was to the Helena 16, the command of which vessel he retained, at the Cape of Good Hope, from 23 Oct. 1843 until paid off in the summer of 1847. He attained his present rank 9 Nov. 1846.
Sir Cornwallis Ricketts married, 31 May, 1834, Henrietta, youngest daughterof Colonel John Tempest, of Tong Hall, co. York, by whom, who died 13 Nov. 1838, he has issue. Agent – Fred. Dufaur.
RICKETTS. (Lieutenant, 1842.)
Simpson Hicks Ricketts, born 26 May, 1816, is youngest brother of Sir Cornwallis Ricketts, Bart., Capt. R.N.
This officer entered the Navy 3 Dec. 1829; passed his examination 20 July, 1836; obtained his commission, while serving as Mate on board the Siren 16, Capt. Wm. Smith (b), 28 Jan. 1842; and from 16 Aug. in the latter year until paid off in 1847 was employed in the Pacific in the Salamander steam-sloop of 220-horse power, Capt. And. Snape Hamond. Agent – Fred. Dufaur.
- ↑ Sir Tristram Robt. Ricketts was born in 1772. Attaining Post rank 9 Oct. 1801, he commanded, during the late war, the Ville de Paris, San Josef, and Hibernia first-rates, bearing the flags of Hon. Wm. Cornwallis, Sir Chas. Cotton, and Earl St. Vincent, and Vengeur 74. In the latter ship, at the close of 1814, he conveyed Major-Greneral Lambert and a reinforcement of troops to the army before New Orleans. In Feb. 1815 he commanded the detachment of seamen landed at Mobile to assist in the reduction of Fort Bowyer. In his official letter, reporting the result of the operations which there took place, Sir Alex. Cochrane declares himself indebted to Capt. Ricketts “for his zeal and exertions in landing and transporting the cannon and supplies, by which the fort was so speedily reduced.” Sir Tristram (who was created a Baronet in 1828) became a Rear-Admiral 22 July, 1830, and a Vice-Admiral 23 Nov. 1841. He died in Aug, 1842.
