Thomas Lloyd (2)

Died 1801. He originated from Cilgwyn, Cardiganshire.

Lloyd was commissioned lieutenant on 26 May 1768 and promoted commander of the fireship Vulcan 8 on 17 April 1778, this being an American prize which he commissioned for the first time. Attached to the Channel fleet, he was present at the Battle of Ushant on 27 July.

A young Captain Horatio Nelson saved many lives when Captain Lloyd’s command caught fire in 1779

He was posted captain on 30 October 1778 and took the Glasgow 24 out to Jamaica in the spring of 1779. Unfortunately this vessel was destroyed by fire at Montego Bay on 1 June, with Captain Horatio Nelson, who was in port at the time, assisting in fighting the fire and taking the crew of the destroyed vessel aboard his sloop, Badger.

During 1780 Lloyd commanded the Portland 50 with the flag of the commander-in-chief of the Newfoundland station, Rear-Admiral Richard Edwards, going out in May and returning at the end of the summer. Back in European waters he captured the Marquis de Seigniary 20 in the Channel on 19 December. He took the Danae 32 out to Newfoundland at the end of the following May, and in company with the Surprise 28, Captain Samuel Reeve, he captured the privateers Venus 16 on 15 July, Independence 16 on 18 July and Diana 10 on 21 July.

In August 1782 he was appointed to commission the new Hemione 32, which he paid off in April 1783 having been deprived of a voyage to rampage amongst the Spanish possession in the Pacific Ocean by the ending of hostilities.

Lloyd did not see any further service but retired from the service to run his family estate where he became respected for his enlightened farming techniques. He was a superannuated rear-admiral, served as sheriff of Cardiganshire in 1800, and died in 1801.

He did not marry but in his complicated will he left a large portion of his estate to his close friend Admiral Richard Braithwaite and family.