Posted by Ben on Tuesday 6th of March 2012 18:48

Thomas was only captain of Bellerophon for a single day, 3 November 1805, and not the two years shown. He superseded Lt. Cumby on that day, Cumby having been in command since Cooke's death at Trafalgar. Thomas's commission took effect on 3 November, but was apparently post-dated to 22 October 1805, the day after Cooke's death. He was almost immediately superseded however, on 4 November, by Edward Rotheram, who sailed Bellerophon back to Britain on 5 November.

Thomas's DNB entry incidentally notes he was rear-admiral from 10 Jan. 1837, c-in-c Pacific from 1841 to 1844, vice-admiral from 8 Jan. 1848, and admiral from 11 Sept. 1854, dying on 21 Aug. 1857.