Capt. Thomas Gamble After the War of 1812

From the book "Records of Officers and Men from New Jersey in Wars 1791-1815" by New Jersey Adjutant's Office.

THOMAS GAMBLE (For previous   record see War With Great Britain.  Lieutenant in command of  Brig "Spark" and joined the Mediterranean Squadron, Captain Stephen  Decatur, at New York , New York,  May 1815;  took part in the engagement with and capture of Algerian ship "Mashouda" off Cape  De Gatt, Spain, , June 17, 1815, and the Algerian brig "Estedio" off Cape Palos, Spain, June 19, 1815.

Ordered from New York to report to the Navy department, Washington, D.C., after he should have dismantled Brig "Spark." under his command, December 11, 1815.

Master Commandant , April 27, 1816, in command of Sloop-of-War "Erie,"  Mediterranean Squadron, Captain Isaac Chauncey, January 1, 1817.  Died at Pisa, Italy, October 10, 1818.

--Brock-Perry

Captain Thomas Gamble-- Part 4: Service in the War of 1812 and Death

Thomas Gamble later fought and was seriously wounded in the first naval engagement of the War of 1812 while serving as second lieutenant on the frigate USS  President.  This was the fight with the British frigate HMS Belvidera. This took place just a few days after war was declared in June 1812.

Upon his recovery, Gamble returned to active duty and was eventually promoted to master commandant..  His first independent command was the  USS Spark in the Mediterranean.

After his death, Gamble's fellow officers arranged  for the transport of his body from Pisa to Leghorn (English Cemetery in Livorno, Italy).  he was transported there in his last command, the USS Erie. Furthermore, $3,000 was raised to provide a marble monument at the grave

--Brock-Perry

Captain Thomas Gamble-- Part 3: One of Four Brothers Who Died in the Service and Friend of James Fennimore Cooper

From Find-a-Grave.

U.S. Naval officer, veteran of the War of 1812, friend and former messmate of writer James Fennimore Cooper ("Last of the Mohicans").

Born in Recklestown (now Chesterfield, New Jersey) on the first Christmas Eve following the American revolution, he was the eldest of four brothers who died in the service of their country.

Only 34 at the time of his death, he became fatally ill while in command of the  sloop USS Erie of the U.S. Navy's Mediterranean Squadron, and died in the naval hospital in Pisa, Italy,  during the autumn of 1818.

His friendship with James Fennimore Cooper had begun a decade earlier when they had served together as midshipmen on Lake Ontario.  There they assisted future Commodore Melancton Woolsey in the construction of the brig USS Oneida, the  first American warship on the Great Lakes.

--Brock-Perry

Captain Thomas Gamble

He was one of the four sons of  American Revolution Marine William Gamble who joined the Navy.  One, John Marshall Gamble became a Marine officer.

From Find-A-Grave.

CAPTAIN THOMAS GAMBLE

BORN: 24 December 1783, Chesterfield, New Jersey

DIED:  9 October 1818, Pisa, Italy

BURIED:  English Cemetery,  Livorno, Italy

--Brock-Perry