THOMAS HOLBROOK, Esq.
[Commander.]
A son of Mr. William Holbrook, an eminent solicitor of Ledbury, co. Hereford, and brother to Lieutenant Charles Holbrook, the only commissioned officer now employed on the Lakes of Canada.
The subject of this memoir was born at Ledbury, in Dec. 1792; and entered the royal navy in Feb. 1800, as midshipman on board the Ocean 98, Captain Francis Pender, fitting out for the flag of Lord Collingwood, commander-in-chief on the Mediterranean station, whom he followed into the Ville de Paris, first rate, in 1809. He subsequently served under Captains J. R. Lumley and Robert Barrie, in the Hind and Pomone frigates. In the latter ship, he was present at the capture of the French privateer Dubourdieu, of 14 guns and 93 men, Jan. 18th, 1811; and at the destruction of l’Etourdie, a national brig of 18 guns and 200 men, in Mar. following.
On the 1st May, 1811, the Pomone, in company with l’Unité frigate, and the Scout sloop, effected the destruction of two large French store-ships, an armed merchantman, a martello tower, and a 4-gun battery in Sagone Bay, island of Corsica, after an action of ninety minutes[1]. At various other times, the boats of the Pomone captured and destroyed forty-two vessels, including three French privateers, mounting altogether 23 guns, and having on board 168 men.
Mr. Holbrook continued in the Pomone until that ship was wrecked near the Needles Point, Oct. 14th, 1811. We next find him in the Alcmene frigate. Captain Edwards Lloyd Graham, employed in the Adriatic, where, in less than twelve months, he was at least ten times engaged with the enemy, either in boats or on shore. In May 1812, he was appointed acting lieutenant of that ship; and on the 23d Sept. following, promoted into a death vacancy on board the Eagle 74, Captain (now Sir Charles) Rowley. In April
