# Royal Naval Biography/Furber, Thomas

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THOMAS FURBER, Esq. [Commander.]
Obtained the rank of lieutenant in Oct. 1801. We first find him serving under Captain Thomas Graves, in the Blenheim 74, stationed off Martinique, where he commanded that ship’s pinnace and barge at the capture of the French schooner privateer Fortunée, of two guns and twenty-nine men, Sep. 15th, 1803. A subsequent service of greater importance was thus officially reported to Commodore Hood, Nov. 17th following:–
“Sir,– I have the honor to acquaint you, that on the 14th instant, the French privateer schooner Harmonie, with a prize, having put into ​the harbour of Marin, in the bay of St. Ann, Martinique, induced me to suggest a plan for the capture of this vessel, more destructive to commerce than any other which has appeared in these seas; and for this purpose I attempted, against a strong sea breeze and lee current, to beat up from off the Diamond Rock to the place where she lay at anchor. It was not until the 16th in the morning that I was able to accomplish it, when, having reconnoitred the harbour of Marin, together with the batteries on each side of it, and also one above the town, I determined on the attempt. I therefore ordered sixty seamen belonging to his Majesty’s ship under my command, with Lieutenants Cole and Furber, and a detachment of sixty marines of the same ship, under the command of Lieutenants Beatty and Boyd, to carry the enterprize into execution; the former in their boats to attack the privateer, and the latter at the same time to endeavour to surprise, or in any event to storm. Fort Dunkirk, a battery of nine guns on the starboard side of the harbour. It was necessary to do so, to cut off the militia from rendezvousing on Marin Point, which being immediately in the track of coming out, and where doubtless they would have been joined by the troops from the fort, would have much annoyed the boats on their return. The Drake having joined me, and Captain Ferris volunteering his services, I directed him to take the command of the seamen, and to add to them fourteen from the Drake. All things being prepared, the boats with the seamen, towed by the Drake, and the marines in four boats, towed by the Swift hired cutter, at eleven p.m. proceeded off the mouth of Marin harbour, and by estimating the time it would take for the boats to row up to the privateer, which vessel lay three miles from the entrance of the harbour, both parties set off so timely as to commence the attack at the same instant; and I am happy to add, that about three a.m. on the following morning, by very spirited and judicious attacks, both parties succeeded; the fort was completely surprised, the prisoners, fifteen in number, taken, and sent on board the cutter, the guns were dismounted and spiked, their carriages totally destroyed, and the magazine blown up; the barracks were spared, as a large and ripe field of canes adjoining must have inevitably been destroyed had they been set fire to.
“The boats with the seamen passed one battery undiscovered; but the privateer was on her guard, and commenced a very heavy fire on them, who nevertheless in the most prompt and gallant manner boarded, and in a few minutes carried her. Two men were found dead on her deck, and fourteen were wounded. As many of the enemy threw themselves into the sea, several must have been drowned. I am sorry to add that the Blenheim had one man killed, and two wounded, and the Drake three wounded, one dangerously.
​“the Harmonie was commanded by Citizen Noyer, had eight carriage guns, and sixty-six men at the attack, forty-four only of whom were found at the time of surrender. The boats and privateer repassed the fort on the larboard side of the harbour within musket-shot, but happily escaped from a heavy fire unhurt.
“The spirited manner in which Captain Ferris led the boats to the attack, and the gallant conduct of Lieutenants Cole and Furber, the petty officers and men, on the occasion, merit my warmest praise; nor can I do too much justice to the conduct of Lieutenant Beatty, commanding the detachment of royal marines. Lieutenant Boyd, the non-commissioned officers and privates, who in the most soldier-like manner, after being challenged and fired upon by two sentinels, and perfectly ignorant of the nature and number of the troops they had to contend with, pushed directly into the fort with fixed bayonets, when the enemy cried for quarter. By the silence with which the battery was carried, one hundred militia of the fort of St. Ann were cut off from the point of rendezvous, and thus the place, to answer all our purposes, secured without the loss of a man. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed)“Thomas Graves.”
On the 5th March, 1804, Captain William Ferris, then commanding the Blenheim, addressed Commodore Hood as follows:–
“Sir,– I beg leave to acquaint you, that the barge and pinnace of H.M. ship under my command, with fifty officers and men, under the orders of Lieutenant Furber, on the night of the 4th inst., made a most gallant, but unsuccessful, attempt to cut out a French national schooner, lying close under a fort, at the town of St. Pierre. She had made formidable preparations, her boarding nettings being triced up to the lower mast-heads, and so fastened that it was almost impossible to get in; and her sweeps rigged out on each side; notwithstanding all this, and the beach lined with soldiers, the forts, an armed sloop, and several other small vessels near, keeping up a heavy fire of guns and musketry, those brave officers and men in the two boats persevered, and cut her cables, but it being perfectly calm, she swung and grounded on the beach, when all hopes of bringing her out were given up, and from the number killed and wounded, as per enclosed list, the commanding officer very properly ordered a retreat. I lament sincerely our loss; but I trust you. Sir, will think the character of British seaman was well supported on this ​occasion, for surely never was greater spirit displayed I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed)“W. Ferris.”
In the beginning of 1808, Lieutenant Furber was serving as first of the Flora frigate. Captain Loftus Otway Bland, on the North Sea station. The following account of the loss of that ship is taken from a letter dated at Lewarden, in Friesland, Jan. 26th, 1808:–
“The Flora struck upon Schelling reef last Monday, the 18th; about nine o’clock that night we succeeded in getting her off, but lost our rudder in the attempt; and after getting her to sea, could hardly keep her free with all the pumps, therefore was obliged, the next day, to run her on shore again. After making rafts, fearing that if it came on to blow hard during the night, she would go to pieces, the captain, Furber, Keith, Doneville, Watson, and myself, pushed off in the barge, that being the only boat we then had, with about 130 of the crew on rafts, the rest choosing to stay by the ship. After rowing for eighteen hours, without sustenance, we landed on the island of Ameland, where they made us prisoners. Those whom we left on the wreck are at Harlingen.”
We lastly find Mr. Furber first lieutenant of the Lively frigate. Captain (now Rear-Admiral) M‘Kinley, employed in co-operation with the Spanish patriots on the coast of Galicia, from whence he was despatched to England in a hired vessel with intelligence of the surrender of Vigo, Mar. 7th, 1809. His commission as commander bears date Sept. 1st, 1824.
* ↑ Six long 24-pounders and three eighteens.
* ↑ One seaman and two marines killed; Lieutenants Furber and Mayne, Mr. Hill, midshipman, and sixteen other persons, wounded; three seamen missing.
* ↑ See Vol. II. Part I. p. 446.