Thomas Lipson, R.N. (ca.1784 – 25 October 1863) generally known as Captain Lipson was born in Dartmouth, England. He had a successful if unspectacular career in the Royal Navy before being 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.
1793 Lipson joined the Royal Navy as a first-class volunteer on the Windsor Castle under Captain Sir Thomas Byard. (At the age of 9 or 10!!)
In 1797 he served under Byard on the Bedford, at the Battle of Camperdown
In 1798 in the Foudroyant 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 the Princess Charlotte, Ruby, and Isis. He then served for short periods on the Neptune, Amphion and Hydra
In 1803, he joined the Montagu 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 the Montagu engaged with L'Alexandre (described in the reference as a ship of 80 guns).
On 24 January 1808, Lipson was nominated Acting Lieutenant of the Sabrina off Cadiz; the promotion was made official on 29 June 1809.
In 1810 he was made Senior Lieutenant of the Bonne Citoyenne on the South American station. He served afterwards in the HMS Laurustinus (described in the reference as a ship of 24 guns), and the Barfleur on the Brazilian and Mediterranean stations.
In 1814 and 1815 in the Iphigenia, HMS Torrent (described in the reference as a ship of 80 guns), and Royal Sovereign, 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". He was in command of the Lapwing on 11 May 1818 when 17 casks of contraband spirits were seized.
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, a post he resigned in 1854 to be controversially replaced by Capt. B. Douglas.
Captain Lipson died on 25 October 1863 and was interred at West Terrace Cemetery.
"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"
Thomas Lipson married Elizabeth Emma Fooks (1791 – 30 May 1880) of Melcombe Regis on 30 July 1812. They travelled to South Australia on the "Cygnet" with six children:
Emma (Mary Ann) Catherine Berry Lipson (1813 – 28 April 1876) married G. S. Kingston M.L.C. on 4 December 1856 (his third marriage, reported as her second though details of the first yet to hand)
Berry James Lipson (1816–1872) 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 (1821 - 20 January 1898) married on 19 January 1839 to Henry Inman (1816–1895), 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.
Eliza Anne Lipson (died 15 March 1845) married John Allan on 25 February 1840, farming at "Allanvale" in the Wimmera district of Victoria.
Thomas Hardy Lipson (1823 – 18 March 1862), an epileptic, was firstly a customs officer at Port Adelaide and then a farmer on the Light River near Kapunda.
Louisa Lipson (1829 – 5 August 1918) married James Collins Hawker (ca.1821 – 15 May 1901) Comptroller of Customs, son of Admiral Edward Hawker and brother of G. C. Hawker, on 24 October 1850. Their last home was "Ashford" on Strangways Terrace, North Adelaide.
Lipson Street, Port Adelaide, was named for him, as were:
Lipson Cove, midway between Tumby Bay and Port Neill
Lipson, a small township near Port Lincoln
Lipson Island, near Port Lincoln
Lipson's Breakwater, a natural rocky headland at Port Elliot
Lipson's Island, Port Elliot
Lipson Reach, on the North Arm, Port Adelaide
A plaque at the wharf, Port Adelaide, is dedicated to him.
Street names with a possible connection are: Lipson Place, Port Lincoln, Lipson Avenue, Kadina, Lipson Road, Wallaroo and Lipson Grove, Hawthorn.
