Sir Thomas Boulden Thompson, 1st Baronet, GCB (28 February 1766 – 3 March 1828) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

[1] He served on the Hyaena with his uncle, spending most of the time in the waters off the British Isles, before accompanying Rodney's fleet to the Relief of Gibraltar in January 1780.

[1] He spent a number of years on land without command of a ship until the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars provided employment.

[1] Thompson was later given command of a squadron, and carried out cruises in the Mediterranean, intercepting French and Spanish ships.

[1] He returned to Gibraltar, but was ordered to sea again in June 1798 to reinforce Nelson's squadron in their hunt for the French fleet that had earlier escaped from Toulon.

In the ensuing engagement Thompson came to the assistance of HMS Culloden, which had run aground on shoals in the entrance to the bay.

[1] After the battle Thompson was joined aboard the Leander by Captain Edward Berry, and sent with Nelson's despatches to Gibraltar.

He was honourably acquitted for the loss of his ship, the court deciding that his gallant and almost unprecedented defence of the Leander, against so superior a force as that of le Généreux, was deserving of every praise his country and the assembled court could give; and that his conduct, with that of the officers and men under his command, reflected not only the highest honour on himself and them, but on their country at large.

[1] Berry was also commended, and whilst being rowed back to shore after his acquittal, Thompson was given three cheers by the crews of the ships moored at Sheerness.

[1] Thompson was appointed to command HMS Bellona in spring 1799, joining the fleet under Lord Bridport, off Brest.

He returned to England in autumn, and participated in the blockade of Brest, until being assigned to Sir Hyde Parker's Baltic expedition in early 1801.

He continued to fire on the enemy's shore batteries, but being a stationary target was heavily damaged, having 11 killed and 63 wounded.

On relinquishing the post of Comptroller he became Treasurer of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich,[2] succeeding the late Sir John Colpoys, and also became Director of the Chest.