Captain Thomas Lipson 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 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, England. In 1793, at the age of 9 or 10, joined the Royal Navy as a first-class volunteer on under Captain Sir Thomas Byard. In 1797, he served under Byard on, at the Battle of Camperdown.
Career
In 1798, in 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,, and. He then served for short periods on, and.
In 1803, he joined and assisted at the blockade of the enemy's ports from 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.
In 1810 he was made Senior Lieutenant of on the South American station. He served afterwards in HMS Laurustinus, and on the Brazilian and Mediterranean stations.
In 1814 and 1815 in, HMS Torrent, and, 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 cutterLapwing, 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". He was in command of the Lapwing on 11 May 1818 when 17 casks of contraband spirits were seized.
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 in 1852, a post he resigned in 1854 to be controversially replaced by Capt. B. Douglas.
"One particular trait in the character of the lamented gentleman should not he lost sight of, and that is that 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 he 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"
Family
Thomas Lipson married Elizabeth Emma Fooks of Melcombe Regis on 30 July 1812. They travelled to South Australia on the "Cygnet" with six children:
Emma Catherine Berry Lipson married G. S. Kingston M.L.C. on 4 December 1856
Berry James Lipson was a minor public servant in the Colonial Secretary's office. Convicted of embezzlement in February 1851 he scandalised his esteemed family, being sentenced to six months imprisonment. Following his release he left South Australia on 1 October 1851 for Sydney aboard the brig Two Friends. A Mr. Lipson left Adelaide alone on the schooner "Amicus" in 1853.
Mary Fooks Lipson married on 19 January 1839 to Henry Inman, founder and first commander of the South Australia Police. The couple, who were to have ten children, returned to England in 1848, where for 36 years he was Anglican Rector of North Scarle parish.
