Page:A Naval Biographical Dictionary.djvu/991

Rh Xebiles, Castro, St. Ano, Guetaria, Santander, Santa Clara, and St. Sebastian. In the he came several times into action with the enemy on the coast of North America. After he left the he did not go afloat. – Collier and Snee.

 RICHMOND. 

was made Lieutenant, 6 May, 1822, into the 10, Capt. Jas. Wigston, on the Jamaica station; and was afterwards appointed – 2 Sept. 1824, to the 42, Commodore Hood Hanway Christian, with whom he remained for upwards of three years at the Cape of Good Hope – 19 Nov. 1828, to the Coast Blockade, in which service he continued employed, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the  and  74’s, both commanded by Capt. Hugh Pigot, until the early part of 1831 – 9 March, 1832, in the capacity last mentioned, to the  50, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Fred. Warren at the Cape of Good Hope – and 22 May following, to the mooring-vessel on that station, Capt. Geo. Fuller Stow. He has been on half-pay since the summer of 1833.

Lieut. Richmond is married and has issue.

 RICKETTS. 

entered the Navy, 4 April, 1795, as A.B., on board the cutter, commanded in the Mediterranean by Lieuts. West and Shepherd. In Oct. 1797 he removed to the 98, bearing the flag of Sir John Orde off Cadiz; and in Sept. 1798 he became Midshipman of the  brig, of 14 4-pounders, Capts. Jahleel Brenton and Lord Cochrane. Under Capt. Brenton he contributed, 9 Aug. 1799, to the capture, after a warm action of great length fought in a small bay near Cape de Gatt, of three vessels, mounting in the whole 22 guns, 6 and 9 pounders. He was with the same officer at the destruction, 3 Oct. following, of four coasting-vessels anchored under a fort and castle in a bay to the eastward of Cape Trafalgar; and also when, unaided, he defeated and put to flight, near Gibraltar, 6 Nov. 1799, two Spanish schooners, each carrying 2 long 24-pounders and 50 men, 10 other vessels of 1 24- pounder and 40 men each, and a French xebec privateer of 8 guns. Under the gallant Cochrane Mr. Ricketts took part in a series of operations against the enemy unparalleled for activity and success. Within the space of 14 months he aided at the taking, by the alone, of 33 vessels, carrying all together 128 guns and 533 men; and on 6 May, 1801, he had the honour of assisting at the evermemorable capture of the Spanish frigate El Gamo of 32 heavy guns and 319 men; which ship, after a close cannonade of 45 minutes, was boarded and carried with irresistible heroism by Lord Cochrane at the head of 40 men. The British, whose number consisted originally of 54, sustained a loss of 3 killed and 8 wounded; the enemy of 15 killed and 41 wounded. On 3 July following the was herself captured by a French squadron under M. Linois, but not until she had exhausted every means of escape, and had behaved in a manner so conspicuous that Lord Cochrane’s sword, on his surrender, was immediately returned to him. Being restored to liberty in the course of the same month, Mr. Ricketts was at once received on board the 80, commanded (as flag-ship to Sir Jas. Saumarez off Cadiz) by his friend Capt. Brenton; with whom he returned home in April, 1802, in the  frigate. Rejoining him, in the ensuing Dec, on board of 48 guns, he was in that ship, 2 July, 1803, when she took the ground under the batteries of Cherbourg, and was compelled, despite a fierce and sanguinary resistance, to strike her colours. In consequence of this misfortune he was for upwards of six years detained a captive in France. During that period he twice attempted to effect his escape – the first time from a prison in the citadel of Valenciennes, the second from a dungeon at Hirson. On being at length set at large, he was promoted, 14 Dec. 1809, to the rank of Lieutenant, and appointed to the 74, Capt. Henry Richard Glynn; in which ship and in the  sloop, Capt. Joseph Needham Tayler, and  74, Capt. Brown, he continued employed on the Baltic and Home stations until the peace. He has since been on half-pay. – Messrs. Halford and Co.

 RICKETTS, Bart. 

, born 27 Feb. 1803, is eldest son of the late Vice-Admiral of the Blue Sir Tristram Robt. Ricketts, Bart., by Rebecca Eliza, daughter of John Gumbleton, Esq., of Glencairne Abbey, co. Waterford; and brother (with ) of St. Vincent Wm. Ricketts, Esq., a Major in the Scotch Greys, who married a grand-daughter of the fifth Earl of Berkeley. His uncle, Gilbert Ricketts, Esq., married a daughter of Admiral Rodney Bligh.

This officer entered the Royal Naval College, 9 Aug. 1816; and embarked, 10 June, 1818, as a Volunteer, on board the 38, Capt. Jas. Rich. Dacres, stationed in the Channel. Between the following Oct. and the date of his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant 20 March, 1823, he served on the West India, Mediterranean, Lisbon, and Home stations, as Midshipman, in the 50, Capt. Hon. Henry Duncan,  46, Capt. Wm. Augustus Montagu, yacht, Capt. Hon. Sir Chas. Paget, and tender. His succeeding appointments were – in April, 1824, for about two years, to the 18, Capts. Wm. Hotham and Wm. Pitt Canning, on the Halifax station – and in Aug. 1828 and April, 1830, to the 84 and  120, flag-ships in the Mediterranean of Sir Pulteney Malcolm. After officiating for about two years and 10 months as Flag-Lieutenant to the officer last mentioned, he was advanced, 18 Aug. 1831, to the rank of Commander. His last appointment was to the 16, the command of which vessel he retained, at the Cape of Good Hope, from 23 Oct. 1843 until paid off in the summer of 1847. He attained his present rank 9 Nov. 1846.

Sir Cornwallis Ricketts married, 31 May, 1834, Henrietta, youngest daughterof Colonel John Tempest, of Tong Hall, co. York, by whom, who died 13 Nov. 1838, he has issue. – Fred. Dufaur.

 RICKETTS. 

, born 26 May, 1816, is youngest brother of

This officer entered the Navy 3 Dec. 1829; passed his examination 20 July, 1836; obtained his commission, while serving as Mate on board the 16, Capt. Wm. Smith (b), 28 Jan. 1842; and from 16 Aug. in the latter year until paid off in 1847 was employed in the Pacific in the steam-sloop of 220-horse power, Capt. And. Snape Hamond. – Fred. Dufaur.

