Thomas Gosselin

Admiral Thomas Le Marchant Gosselin (7 May 1765 – 27 November 1857) was a British naval officer of the 18th and 19th centuries who received the patronage of senior officers such as Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood and William Cornwallis. Gosselin joined the Royal Navy in 1778 and as a junior officer had extensive service in the American Revolution, including participating in the Battle of the Saintes in April 1782. Promoted to commander in April 1793, Gosselin took part in the Glorious First of June as commander of HMS Kingfisher. He was promoted to post-captain in July 1795 and took command of a variety of ships including most notably HMS Syren, HMS Latona, and HMS Audacious. Gosselin frequently served on blockade duties in the English Channel and on convoy duties to and from the West Indies.

His final services at sea in 1809 included his assistance in the evacuation from Corunna of the army of Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore. Gosselin refused command of HMS Cressy in 1810 due to health issues and never served at sea again. He was promoted to rear-admiral in June 1814 and admiral in November 1841. In October 1854 Gosselin became the most senior admiral in the Royal Navy but was never promoted to admiral of the fleet, either because of the long length of time since his last service at sea or because of his ongoing health issues.

Early life Thomas Le Marchant Gosselin was born on 7 May 1765 at Saint Peter Port as the second son of Colonel Joshua Gosselin of the North regiment of the Royal Guernsey Militia, and Martha, daughter of Thomas Le Marchant of Guernsey. His younger brother was General Gerard Gosselin, and he had two other younger brothers who died serving at Trinidad in 1803. Gosselin was also present at the Battle of the Mona Passage where a squadron under Rear-Admiral Hood captured an escaping French squadron, with Champion capturing a French corvette. In this action Gosselin attacked a French frigate attempting to tow away a large store ship, forcing the frigate to abandon the ship to Gosselin. He served as captain of Brunswick until October. Gosselin served in Ville de Paris until September when he was given command of the frigate HMS Latona and the inshore squadron of the Brest blockade. For his service commanding the inshore squadron Gosselin received the thanks of Admiral Cornwallis, Admiral Lord Gardner, and Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Cotton. Less than a week after this Audacious was sailing to the north of Barbados when she was totally dismasted in the Great Coastal hurricane of 1806. |group=Note Gosselin was instead described as the 'senior admiral of the red', with it being suggested that his debilitating illness was a mental one which made him unsuitable to be the true senior admiral of the navy.

Death Gosselin died at his home in Jersey on 27 November 1857 as an admiral of the red and was buried at St Leonard's Church, Bengeo, Hertfordshire.

Family Gosselin married Sarah Hadsley, daughter and heiress of Jeremiah Hadsley of Ware Priory, on 18 March 1809. Together they had one son and three daughters, including: Emma Gosselin (b. 24 May 1811) Martin Hadsley Gosselin (5 July 1813–1869) who married Frances Orris Marshall, the daughter of Rear-Admiral Sir John Marshall.

Notes and citations