# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Baldock, Thomas

Layout 4
​BALDOCK, K.T.S. (Commander, 1841. f-p., 25; h-p., 16.)
Thomas Baldock is son of the late Rev. Thos. Chaloner Byng Baldock, M.A., Rector of Milton, in Dorsetshire; and nephew, maternally, of the late Rear-Admiral Thos. Western, of Tattingstone, co. Suffolk.
This officer (who had previously served with the fleet of Indiamen under Commodore Dance, when that officer so memorably discomfited the French squadron under Admiral Linois) entered the Navy, 25 Oct. 1806, as Midshipman, on board the London 98, commanded by his uncle, Capt. Thos. Western, bearing the flag of Sir Wm. Sidney Smith; and, in Nov. 1807, after blockading the Tagus, escorted the Royal Family of Portugal to the Brazils. He removed, in June, 1809, to the Nemesis 28, Capt. Wm. Ferris, employed in the Baltic; joined next, for a few months in 1810, the Tonnant 80, Capt. Hassard Stackpoole, off Cadiz; was then sent to assist in navigating a Spanish squadron to Minorca; and on returning, in October, to Cadiz, was for 11 consecutive months actively engaged with the flotilla, latterly in command of a gun-boat, at the defence of that place. From Sept. 1811, until June, 1813, he further served in the Barbadoes 24, Capt. Wm. Rushworth, and in the Dragon 74, Tribune 36, and Grampus 50,flag-ships of Sir Fras. Laforey, all on the West India station, where, on 10 Nov. in the latter year, he was promoted into the Arachne 16, Capts. Chas. Hope Watson and Wm. M‘Kenzie Godfrey, of which sloop he soon became First Lieutenant. As Senior of the Herald 28, Capt. Clement Milward, Mr. Baldock subsequently took part in many operations on the coast of North America; and, during the expedition against New Orleans, captured the advanced guard of the enemy at the Belize previous to the arrival of the forces – commanded also every detached operation at the mouth of the Mississippi, including the capture of a privateer, ​&c. – and negotiated the exchange of prisoners on the withdrawal of the army. After a continued servitude of some months, in the Royalist 18, Capt. Houston Stewart, and Sabine 16, Capt. Alex. Campbell, both on the Jamaica station, he invalided home in March, 1816; and was next in succession appointed, 13 Sept. 1824, 25 Nov. 1831, and 9 Nov. 1832, to the command of the Swallow packet, and Firebrand and Firefly steamers, the first and last employed on the Falmouth, the other on the Mediterranean station. On 9 March, 1839, having been for three years on half-pay, he assumed command of the Snipe cutter, in which vessel he served, off the coast of Ireland, until promoted to his present rank, 23 Nov. 1841. He has been in discharge, since 19 Aug. 1846, of the duties attached to the superintendence of the Packet service at Dover, with his name on the books of the Ocean 80.
Commander Baldock, in Aug. 1836, formed part of a Committee of three officers appointed by the Admiralty to effect an organization of the steam department of the Navy. He was granted, 1 May, 1837, the royal permission to accept and wear the Cross of a Knight of the Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword, for the services rendered by him, and the great skill he displayed, while conveying Her Most Faithful Majesty’s August Consort Prince Ferdinand of Portugal to Lisbon. The Order of Ernest of Saxe Coburg appears to have been also conferred upon him.