Thomas Tonken

Posted by Bob Brooks on Friday 31st of May 2013 18:58

Thomas Tonken served the entire American War without weighing anchor of a warship. On 09 June 1775 he was appointed 1st Lieut., HMS Mars, 3d rate/74, a guardship at Sheerness, but was superseded 12 Aug 1776 (ADM 6/21, pp. 96 & 113) whereupon he took a position as Lieutenant, Agent of Transports for Sir Peter Parker's Southern Expedition, the failed attempt to take Charlestown SC, afterwhich he served with transports at New York. On 25 Dec 1778 RAdm James Gambier promoted him Commander, HMS Otter, Armed Ship in a "command for a day" promotion to establish his rank (ADM 6/21, p.574, confirmed 14 June 1779) sfterwhich re served as a Principal Agent of Transports (ADM 1/2592/11/1). Tonken would get a second "command for a day" on 15 May 1780 when VAdm Mariot Arbuthnot appointed him Captain, HMS Charlestown, 5th rate/32 (ex-USS Boston taken in the harbor when Charlestown, SC, surrendered). Tonken was superseded on 16 May 1780 by Captain Henry Francis Evans (ADM 1/486, ff.373-75). Again Tonken resumed duties as a Principal Agent of Transports until returning to England in early 1782.