{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} [[File:Thomas Lipson.jpeg|thumb|Thomas Lipson]] Captain '''Thomas Lipson''' ({{circa|1784}} – 25 October 1863) was an officer in the [[Royal Navy]], who, after a successful if unspectacular career in the [[Royal Navy]], was appointed by the Admiralty as the first [[Harbourmaster|Harbour Master]] at [[South Australia]], arriving there with the pioneer settlers. Serving from 1836 to 1855, based at [[Port Adelaide]], Lipson also superintended many of the initial maritime surveys of that new colony.
He was born in [[Dartmouth, Devon|Dartmouth]], England. In 1793, at the age of 9 or 10, joined the Royal Navy as a first-class volunteer on {{HMS|Windsor Castle|1790|2}} under Captain Sir [[Thomas Byard]]. In 1797, he served under Byard on {{HMS|Bedford|1775|2}}, at the [[Battle of Camperdown]].
==Career== In 1798, he served in {{HMS|Foudroyant|1798|2}} under Byard at the [[Battle of Tory Island]]. He was present at the [[Battle of the Nile]] and the taking of Toulon; during the rest of the war as midshipman and master's mate in {{HMS|Princess Charlotte|1799|2}}, {{HMS|Ruby|1776|2}}, and {{HMS|Isis|1774|2}}. He then served for short periods on {{HMS|Neptune|1797|2}}, {{HMS|Amphion|1798|2}} and {{HMS|Hydra|1797|2}}. In 1803, he joined {{HMS|Montagu|1779|2}} and assisted at the blockade of the enemy's ports from [[Brest, France|Brest]] to the [[Dardanelles]]. He was present on 22 August 1805, in Admiral Cornwallis's attack on the French fleet close to Brest harbour, when ''Montagu'' engaged with ''L'Alexandre'' (described in the reference<ref name=obit/> as a ship of 80 guns).
On 24 January 1808, Lipson was nominated Acting Lieutenant of {{HMS|Sabrina|1806|2}} off [[Cádiz]]; the promotion was made official on 29 June 1809. In 1810 he was made Senior Lieutenant of {{HMS|Bonne Citoyenne|1796|2}} on the South American station. He served afterwards in HMS ''Laurustinus'' (described in the reference<ref name=obit>{{cite news|title=The Late Captain Lipson, R.N.|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50179884|accessdate=4 June 2013|newspaper=South Australian Register|date=27 October 1963}}</ref> as a ship of 24 guns), and {{HMS|Barfleur|1768|2}} on the Brazilian and Mediterranean stations.
In 1814 and 1815 in {{HMS|Iphigenia|1808|2}}, HMS ''Torrent'' (described in the reference<ref name=obit/> as a ship of 80 guns), and {{HMS|Royal Sovereign|1786|2}}, on the North American and home stations. Captain Lipson was awarded a medal and two clasps for general actions during the war. In January 1817 he was in charge of the revenue cutter ''Lapwing'', when she parted from her cables and was driven from her anchorage in Mill Bay, Plymouth, and went ashore high and dry over a ridge of rocks "with comparatively but little damage".<ref>Marshall, John ''Royal Naval Biography; Or, Memoirs of the Services of All the Flag-officers'' p.209</ref> He was in command of the Lapwing on 11 May 1818 when 17 casks of contraband spirits were seized.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lieutenant Thomas Lipson|url=http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/17434/pages/2330/page.pdf|accessdate=4 June 2013|newspaper=The London Gazette|date=23 December 1818}}</ref> ''Lapwing'' (built 1808 in [[Mevagissey]], [[Cornwall]]) was to turn up later in South Australia - she was brought to Port Adelaide in May 1850 and sold to merchant Ephraim Teakle. She made regular voyages to the [[Perth, Western Australia]] and [[Melbourne, Victoria]]. In 1852 she was sold to [[George Hall (Australian politician)|Captain George Hall]], [[William Paxton (Australian businessman)|William Paxton]] and Captain Henry Simpson (d. 26 April 1884), and in April 1853 transferred to Captain William Francis Jnr.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=The Parsons List - J to Q|url=http://www.australianshipwrecks.info/easw-parsonslist-j-o.html|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Australian Shipwrecks|accessdate=4 June 2013}}</ref> She was wrecked at [[Port Elliot]] on 6 September 1856 during a gale, when the government moorings gave way.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49755355 Gales on the Coast] ''South Australian Register'' 9 September 1856 p.2 accessed 14 October 2011</ref> The crew escaped unharmed but two sailors died when they attempted to return to the vessel. The ship was not insured and Captain Francis was bankrupted.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article785891 Insolvency Court] ''South Australian Advertiser'' 26 November 1858 p.3 accessed 28 October 2011</ref>
He was appointed Commander on 4 March 1819.
In 1836, Commander Lipson was appointed by the Admiralty as Naval Officer for South Australia, by the Colonial Government as Harbour-Master at Port Adelaide and Administrator of Marine Affairs, and by the Hon. Commissioners of H.M. Customs as Collector for South Australia. He made several surveys of the South Australian coast for the Home Government.
In 1840 he resigned the Customs position, but held the former two until 1855, when he was given rank as Post-Captain and retired on a life pension. He was appointed Master of the [[Trinity House]] Board (later renamed Marine Board) in 1852,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38440384 |title=Legislative Council |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=15 October 1851 |accessdate=29 August 2014 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> a post he resigned in 1854 to be controversially replaced by Capt. B. Douglas.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43158481 |title=Our Maritime Laws |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=30 June 1881 |accessdate=29 August 2014 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
Lipson died on 25 October 1863 and was interred at [[West Terrace Cemetery]].
==Character== When Lipson was eulogised in the South Australian Register, remark was given to his character. It noted a "general urbanity and affability which at all times marked his conduct in his intercourse with persons of inferior rank in life. An old acquaintance, though he might be in humble garb, was to him an old friend, and was recognised as such wherever met, and many a time has his warm heart flushed his happy face on meeting a subordinate or tradesman busy about his ordinary duties. Open-hearted, candid, and outspoken himself, he sought and felt delight in association with similar minds, wherever he found them."<ref name=obit/>
==Family== Thomas Lipson married Elizabeth Emma Fooks (1791–1880) of [[Melcombe Regis]] on 30 July 1812.<ref>{{cite web|title=Captain Thomas Lipson|url=http://boundforsouthaustralia.net.au/journey-content/captain-thomas-lipson.html|work=Bound for South Australia|date=14 May 2011 |accessdate=4 June 2013}}</ref> They travelled to South Australia on the "Cygnet" with six children: * Emma (Mary Ann) Catherine Berry Lipson (1813–1876) * Berry James Lipson (1816–1872)<ref>{{cite news|title=Local News|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71687355#pstart6252887|accessdate=4 June 2013|newspaper=South Australian|date=22 July 1851}}</ref> * Mary Fooks Lipson (1821–1898)<ref>Max Slee [http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/36918700?q&versionId=47932463 ''Inman : first commander of the South Australia Police''], Seaview Press (Adelaide 2010) {{ISBN|978-1-74008-559-5}}.</ref> * Eliza Anne Lipson (died 1845)<ref>{{cite news|title=Grave of First White Woman in America|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11956064|accessdate=4 June 2013|newspaper=The Argus|date=9 January 1937}}</ref> * Thomas Hardy Lipson (1823–1862) * Louisa Lipson (1829–1918)
==Legacy== A plaque at the wharf, Port Adelaide, is dedicated to him and many landmarks and geographical features were named in his honor. They include: * Lipson Street in [[Port Adelaide]] * Lipson Reach - a section of the Port River on the North Arm, Port Adelaide *[[Lipson Cove]], which lies midway between [[Tumby Bay, South Australia|Tumby Bay]] and [[Port Neill]] * Lipson Island (and Lipson Island Conservation Park) - an inshore island adjacent to Lipson Cove *[[Lipson, South Australia|Lipson]] - a small inland township north of [[Port Lincoln]] * Lipson's Breakwater - a natural rocky headland at [[Port Elliot, South Australia|Port Elliot]] * Lipson's Island, [[Port Elliot, South Australia|Port Elliot]] Street names with a possible connection are: Lipson Place in Port Lincoln, Lipson Avenue in [[Kadina, South Australia|Kadina]], Lipson Road in [[Wallaroo, South Australia|Wallaroo]] and Lipson Grove in [[Hawthorn, South Australia|Hawthorn]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}} Maybe also Lipson Terrace, Robe, SA
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{cite wikisource |first=William Richard|last=O'Byrne|chapter=Lipson, Thomas|title=A Naval Biographical Dictionary|year=1849|publisher=[[John Murray (publishing house)|John Murray]]}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lipson, Thomas}} [[Category:1780s births]] [[Category:1863 deaths]] [[Category:Australian public servants]] [[Category:Royal Navy captains]] [[Category:Year of birth uncertain]] [[Category:English emigrants to colonial Australia]] [[Category:Burials at West Terrace Cemetery]] [[Category:History of Port Adelaide]]