A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Andrew, John William
ANDREW, C.B. (Rear-Admiral,, 1846. f-p., 16; h-p., 33.)
John William Andrew is the son of a clergyman.
This officer entered the Navy, in June, 1798, as A.B., on board the Foudroyant 80, Capt. Sir Thos. Byard. After witnessing the capture, in the following October, of a squadron of French ships under Commodore Bompart, destined for the invasion of Ireland, he removed, as Midshipman, to the Royal George 100, bearing the flag of Lord Bridport in the Channel, where, and on the Mediterranean and East and West India stations, he subsequently served in the Seahorse 38, Capt. Edw. Jas. Foote, Blanche 36, Capt. Zachary Mudge, and Conqueror, Leopard, and Canopus, Capt. (afterwards Rear-Admiral Sir Thos.) Louis. While under the latter officer, he served in the Leopard’s boats in the celebrated catamaran attack of 1804 on the Boulogne flotilla, and was present in the Canopus in Sir John Duckworth’s action off St. Domingo, 6 Feb. 1806. Being advanced to the rank of Lieutenant 2 April following, Mr. Andrew next joined, on 24 July in the same year, the London 98, Capt. Thos. Western, under whom he subsequently escorted the royal family of Portugal to the shores of South America. In July, 1809, he was appointed to the Ajax 74, Capt. Robt. Waller Otway, and during the two years that followed he saw a good deal of active boat-service in the Mediterranean. After acting for six weeks as Captain of the Rainbow frigate, he assumed oificial command, 26 Sept. 1811, of the Weazle 18, and on 21 Feb. 1812, was in company with the Victorious 74, in the Gulf of Venice, when that ship encountered an enemy’s squadron, consisting of the Rivoli 74, Mercure and Jéna, of 18 guns each, and Mamelouck 8. During the operations that ensued, Capt. Andrew, whose exertions were extremely creditable, was for 40 minutes engaged in close action with the Mercure, which eventually blew up; then chased and put to flight the Jéna, by whom he had also been opposed; and, having likewise driven off the Mamelouck, bore up to the assistance of the Victorious, stood across the bows of the Rivoli, and twice poured in a broadside – shortly after which the latter ship surrendered.[1] For his gallant and exemplary conduct he was presented, on completing his time, with a Post commission, dated 26 Sept. 1812. He lastly officiated as Captain, from 1 Oct. 1814, to 24 Jan. 1816, of the Dee 24, and during that period visited Hudson’s Bay. He accepted his present rank 1 Oct. 1846.
Rear-Admiral Andrew was nominated a C.B. 4 June, 1815.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1812, p. 851.