29 Facts About Thomas Ussher

Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Ussher KCH CB was an Anglo-Irish officer of the British Royal Navy who served with distinction during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and who in 1814 conveyed Napoleon Bonaparte into exile in Elba.

Thomas Ussher was born in Dublin, the son of Henry Ussher, the Andrews Professor of Astronomy at Trinity College, and Mary Burne.

Thomas Ussher served in Irish waters, then took part in an expedition to the Bight of Benin.

Thomas Ussher was given command of her, but on the 24th the Alcyon was recaptured by the French close to Guadeloupe; and he was for a short time detained as a prisoner.

Thomas Ussher attempted to capture her, but the crew boarded as he approached, and using hawsers hauled the schooner into the river channel.

Thomas Ussher called on them to surrender, and received a broadside in reply.

Thomas Ussher attempted to board under cover of the smoke, anticipating reinforcements from the Pelican, but was shot through the right thigh.

Thomas Ussher subsequently captured a felucca found lying under a small battery on the north side of Puerto Rico.

In September 1800 Trent returned to England with Admiral Sir Hyde Parker aboard, and Thomas Ussher, still suffering from the effects of his wounds, was obliged to go on to half-pay.

Thomas Ussher applied for employment in June 1801, against the advice of his doctors, and was appointed to command the cutter Nox, stationed off Weymouth in attendance upon the King, where he remained four months.

Thomas Ussher remained unemployed during the peace of Amiens, but on 26 September 1803 was appointed to command of the cutter Joseph.

Towards the end of 1804 Thomas Ussher was assigned to be the second-in-command to Captain Peter Puget in a proposed operation to destroy the fleet at Brest by means of fire ships.

Thomas Ussher's next exploit was to land at midnight with only six men, not more than 200 yards from Fort de Bertheaume, where he captured a signal-post, and a copy of the French private signals.

On 19 April 1806,24 men from Colpoys and the gun-brig Attack, under Lieutenant Thomas Ussher Swain, landed at the entrance of the river Doelan, spiked two guns of a battery, and captured two chasse-marees.

Thomas Ussher's losses were confined to one man killed, and three wounded.

Thomas Ussher silenced a battery of six long 24-pounders, before her boats under Lieutenant Ferguson destroyed the mistico and took possession of the feluccas.

On his return to Gibraltar, Thomas Ussher found that he had been promoted to post-captain, with seniority dating from 24 May 1808.

At a public dinner given to him by the nobility and gentry Thomas Ussher was presented with the Freedom of the City of Dublin.

On 6 May 1809, Thomas Ussher was appointed to command of the Leyden, which was intended to be stationed in the Kattegat for the protection of British trade.

Thomas Ussher sailed to the Netherlands with a regiment of Guards, returning to England with a contingent of sick soldiers.

Leyden was paid off in January 1810, and on 15 May 1811 Thomas Ussher was given temporary command of the America, transferring to the ship-sloop Hyacinth on 24 May to accompany a fleet of merchantmen to the Mediterranean, where he joined the squadron engaged in the defence of Cadiz.

On 1 October 1812 Thomas Ussher was appointed to the 36-gun frigate Euryalus, having held temporary command of the 74 Edinburgh for a few days at Menorca.

Thomas Ussher intercepted several valuable American merchantmen during the short time he commanded Euryalus, but was employed chiefly at the blockade of Toulon.

In late 1813 Thomas Ussher was stationed by Sir Edward Pellew off Toulon with a small squadron under his orders to watch the movements of the French fleet.

Thomas Ussher landed and there received orders from Lord Castlereagh in Paris, to prepare to convey Bonaparte to Elba.

Thomas Ussher was then given command of the 74 Duncan on 29 June 1814, returning to England in her in August.

Thomas Ussher served as Superintendent of the Royal Navy Dockyards at Bermuda and Halifax between 1831 and 1838, and was granted the Captain's Good-Service Pension on 12 March 1838.

Thomas Ussher published his Narrative of the First Abdication of Napoleon in 1840 and on 9 November 1846 was promoted to flag-rank as Rear-Admiral of the Blue.

Thomas Ussher served as Commander-in-Chief at Cork Station, from 1 July 1847 until his death the following year.