Edward Thompson (Royal Navy officer)

Edward Thompson (c. 1738–1786) was an English Royal Navy officer who rose to the rank of commodore, known also as a literary figure with the nickname "Poet Thompson".

The son of a merchant of Kingston upon Hull, he received his early education at Beverley, and later at Hampstead under Dr. Cox, formerly of Harrow School. He is said to have made a voyage to Greenland in 1750. In 1754 he was on board an East Indiaman and made a voyage to the East Indies. On his return to England he entered on board HMS Stirling Castle, a 64-gun-ship, as a midshipman. Two years later, on 16 November 1757, he passed his examination and was promoted to be lieutenant of HMS Jason, in the North Sea and the Channel; ten days later, in December 1758, he was moved into HMS Dorsetshire with Captain Peter Denis. During the Seven Years' War he was in the long blockade of Brest through the summer of 1759, and was present at the Battle of Quiberon Bay on 20 November In March 1760 he accompanied Denis to HMS Bellona, in which he stayed till the end of the war. He was then put on half-pay, and took on the role of man of letters.

On 10 January 1771, perhaps through the influence of David Garrick, he was promoted to the rank of commander and appointed to the Kingfisher, in service in the North Sea on preventive work. At the end of the year he was moved into HMS Raven, in which he went out to the Mediterranean, where Sir Peter Denis, the commander-in-chief, promoted him to be captain of HMS Niger by a commission that was confirmed by the admiralty and dated 2 April 1772. In June he brought the Niger home and was again for some years on half-pay.

...
Wikipedia