# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Maling, Thomas James

Layout 4
​MALING. (Vice-Admiral of the Red, 1841. f-p., 27; h-p., 29)
Thomas James Maling, born 15 July, 1778, is son of Christopher Thompson Maling, Esq., J.P., , of Hendon Lodge, co. Durham; and brother-in-law of the late Earl of Mulgrave, G.C.B., a General Officer in the Army, and Colonel of the 31st Regt., father of the present Marquess of Normanby.
This officer entered the Navy, 13 June, 1791, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Duke 98, Capt. Robt. Kingsmill, lying at Spithead; joined, next, the Alcide 74, and Niger 32, Capts. Sir Andw. Snape Douglas and Rich. Goodwin Keats; and in Aug. 1792 became attached to the Penelope 32, Capt. Bartholomew Sam. Rowley, on the Jamaica station, where he assisted at the capture, 16 April, 1793, of Le Goelan 14, the first republican vessel taken during the war. In Dec. of the latter year he became Midshipman of the Swiftsure 74, bearing the flag at Cork of Rear-Admiral Kingsmill; and on being again, in the spring of 1795, placed under the orders of Capt. Rowley in the Cumberland 74, he took part, 13 July in that year, in the partial action fought by Admiral Hotham with the French fleet off the Hyeres Islands. In the course of the ensuing Oct. Mr. Maling removed to the Victory 100, bearing the flag of Sir John Jervis, by whom, after having officiated as his Aide-de-camp and Signal-Mate in the action off Cape St. Vincent, he was nominated, in Feb. 1797, Lieutenant of La Minerve frigate, Capt. Geo. Cockburn. Previously to his confirmation in the rank of Lieutenant, which took place 6 Oct. following, we find him serving in the boats of the last-mentioned ship and the Lively, and particularly distinguishing himself at the capture, close to the town of Santa Cruz, after a loss to the British of 15 men wounded, of La Mutine French national corvette of 14 guns, which was brought out, notwithstanding a smart fire of musketry from the crew, 113 in number, and a heavy discharge of artillery and small-arms from the shore, as also the fire of a large ship at anchor in the road. Attaining the rank of Commander 24 Dec. 1798, Capt. Maling was immediately appointed, in that capacity, to La Bonne Citoyenne 20; in which vessel he had charge for many months of the blockade of Malta, and was present at the capture of Le Généreux 74, La Ville de Marseilles armed store-ship, and Le Guillaume Tell of 84 guns and 1000 men. He was nominated Acting-Captain of Le Guillaume Tell 11 April, 1800; was officially posted, on 6 of the next Sept., into the Alkmaar 54; and was subsequently appointed – 10 Oct. 1801 (after seven months of half-pay), to the Diana 38, actively employed, during six years, on the Mediterranean, Cork, and North and South American stations – 27 Oct. 1807, to the Undaunted 38, attached to the force in the West Indies and Channel, where he served until June, 1810 – 1 Sept. 1812, for two years, to the Mulgrave 74, in the Mediterranean – and, 31 July, 1821, and 31 May and 23 June, 1823, to the Northumberland 78, Spartiate 76, and Cambridge 82, the two former on the Home, the latter on the South American station, whence he returned in 1827. It was his fortune, when in command of the Diana, and in company with the Pique 36, to effect the capture, in Dec. 1804, of the Spanish ship of war Diligentia of 28 guns; as also, 18 Feb. 1807, of the French privateer La Charlotte of 14 guns, pierced for 20, with a complement of 118 men. He conducted for a long time, too, the blockade of Curaçoa, and, by taking possession of the island of Oruba, whence it had drawn its supplies, succeeded in reducing it to the state in which it was found by the late Sir Chas. Brisbane previously to its surrender. The Undaunted proved the captor, 12 Feb. 1809, of the San Josephe privateer of 14 guns and 96 men, and was for a time engaged at the defence of Cadiz: the Mulgrave, besides capturing two martello towers, was very successful against the enemy’s trade, and formed part of the force under Sir Edw. Pellew in his action of 5 Nov. 1813 with the Toulon fleet. The subject of the present narrative became a Rear-Admiral 22 July, 1830; and attained the rank he now holds 23 Nov. 1841.
The Vice-Admiral is a Magistrate for cos. Durham and Worcester, and a Deputy-Lieutenant for the latter. He married, first, 2 Dec. 1811, Harriet, youngest daughter of the late celebrated Dr. Darwin, of the Priory, near Derby; and, secondly, 29 July, 1828, Jemima, second daughter of the late Colonel Bromley, of Abberley Lodge, co. Worcester, by whom he has issue a son and two daughters.