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Sir Thomas Bladen Capel


NationalityBritish 
RolesNaval Sailor 
Date of Birth25.8.1776 - WatfordNBD1849
First Known Service12.4.1792NBD1849
FatherWilliam Anne Holles Capel, 4th Earl of EssexNAO
MotherHarriet Isabella Bladen (d1821)NAO
WifeHarriet Catherine Smyth (d 1866/07/30)NAO
Nephew
Algernon Henry CapelBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1827-1831
NBD1849
Last Known Service28.4.1847NBD1849
Date of Death4.3.1853 - Rutland Gate, LondonE-WIKI

Event History


Date fromDate toEventSource
22.3.1782 His name entered into the muster book of the PhaetonNBD1849
12.4.179226.6.1792
Assistance (50) 1781-1802
British 50 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
, Captain's Servant
NAO
1.3.17935.9.1794
Assistance (50) 1781-1802
British 50 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
, Midshipman ADM 6/24/51
NAO
24.9.179423.1.1795
Apollo (38) 1794-1799
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
, Midshipman
NAO
25.1.179515.3.1795
Leviathan (74) 1790-1848
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, Midshipman
NAO
16.3.179528.3.1795
Sans Pareil (80) 1794-1842
British 80 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, Midshipman
NAO
6.1795 
Sans Pareil (80) 1794-1842
British 80 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, Midshipman
ADM 171/8
23.6.1795 Action of Ile Groix 
5.4.1797 LieutenantCSORN
23.4.179711.4.1798
Cambrian (40) 1797-1828
British 40 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
, Third Lieutenant
NAO
11.4.179813.8.1798
Vanguard (74) 1787-1821
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, Lieutenant
NAO
1.8.1798 Battle of the Nile 
3.8.17984.9.1798
Mutine (18) 1797-1803
British 18 Gun
Unrated Sloop
, Commander, and Commanding Officer
NAO
2.10.1798 CommanderCSORN
7.12.17984.1.1799
Alecto (12) 1781-1802
British 12 Gun
Unrated Fireship
, Commander, and Commanding Officer
NAO
27.12.1798 CaptainCSORN
11.1.179913.9.1800
Arab (22) 1798-1810
British 22 Gun
6th Rate Post Ship
, Captain, and Commanding Officer
NAO
18019.6.1801
Meleager (32) 1785-1801
British 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
, Captain, and Commanding Officer
BWAS-1714
6.18021803
Revolutionaire (36) 1794-1822
British 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
, Captain, and Commanding Officer
BWAS-1793
13.9.18021.1806
Phoebe (36) 1795-1841
British 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
, Captain, and Commanding Officer
BWAS-1793
21.10.1805 Battle of Trafalgar 
18061810
Endymion (44) 1797-1868
British 44 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
, Captain, and Commanding Officer
BWAS-1793
19.2.180720.2.1807Forcing the Dardanelles 
1.3.18073.3.1807Passage of the Dardanelles 
1.1809 Evacuation at Corunna 
7.18112.1812
Barham (74) 1811-1840
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, Captain, and Commanding Officer
BWAS-1793
12.18111814
Hogue (74) 1811-1865
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, Captain, and Commanding Officer
BWAS-1793
6.1815 Appointed Companion of the Order of the BathODNB
10.5.1816 Married Harriet (no children)ODNB
27.5.1825 Rear-Admiral of the WhiteNL1834
22.7.1830 Rear-Admiral of the RedODNB
20.2.1832 Appointed 6th Knight Commander of the Order of the BathTKE1
18341837Appointed Commander-in-Chief — East IndiesE-WIKI
10.1.1837 Vice-AdmiralODNB
1847 Received the Naval General Service Medal with a clasp for an action with the French fleet and the capture of 3 sail of the line whilst serving on Sans Pareil on 23.6.1795ADM 171/8
28.4.1847 AdmiralODNB
18481852Appointed Commander-in-Chief — PortsmouthE-WIKI
7.4.1852 Appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the BathODNB

Notes on Officer


Details from the Pay Books of the Sans PareilNAO

Ship's pay book number: (SB 511)

29 March 1795 to 1 May 1795 Comments: Lent to another ship.
2 May 1795 to 19 October 1795 Rank/rating: Midshipman

20 October 1795 to 24 December 1795 Comments: Lent to another ship.

25 December 1795 to 15 May 1796 Rank/rating: Midshipman

Ship's pay book number: (SB 798)
16 May 1796 to 20 August 1796 Rank/rating: Acting Lieutenant

21 August 1796 to 2 January 1797 Rank/rating: Midshipman

Ship's pay book number: (SB 863)
3 January 1797 to 8 February 1797 Rank/rating: Acting Lieutenant

8 February 1797 to 8 March 1797 Comments: Lent to another ship.

9 March 1797 to 16 March 1797 Rank/rating: Acting Lieutenant

17 March 1797 to 4 April 1797 Rank/rating: Midshipman



Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:11

The following promotions have just taken place at the Admiralty:
The Hon J B Capel, appointed to the Alecto. [Hampshire Chronicle, 10 December 1798]


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