Herbert Thomas Ryves, R.N.

RYVES. (Lieutenant, 1841.)

Herbert Thomas Ryves is son of the late Rear-Admiral Geo. Fred. Ryves, by his second wife, Emma, daughter of Rich. Robt. Graham, Esq.; and half-brother of Capt. Geo. Fred. Ryves, R.N. One of his own brothers, Walter Robert, in the Royal Navy, was drowned; and two others, Edw. Augustus and Wm. Henry, also in the Royal Navy, died at sea.

This officer entered the Navy 17 July, 1824; and passed his examination 1 Dec. 1830. While serving in China as Acting-Lieutenant in the H.E.I.Co.’s war-steamer Phlegethon, Lieut.-Commander Jas. Johnstone M‘Cleverty, he took command, 15 March, 1842, of the boats of that vessel, and, in unison with those of the Cornwallis 72 and Blonde 42, destroyed five large flat-bottomed boats, each armed with an 18-pounder carronade, together with 14 boats fitted as a fire-raft, and a mandarin house, filled with powder and military stores. In the course of the same day he again served in the boats in an attempt to intercept the enemy in their flight after the battle of Tze-Kee.[1] He was confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant 23 Not. 1841. In May, 1843, he obtained an appointment to the Conway 26, Capt. Robt. Fair, fitting at Portsmouth; and from 13 Dec. 1843 until the close of 1847, he was employed on the south-east coast of America, chiefly as First-Lieutenant, in the Satellite 18, Capt. Robt. Hibbert Bartholomew Rowley.