A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Aplin, John George
APLIN. (Captain, 1826. f-p., 13; h-p., 33.)
John George Aplin, born 23 April, 1790, at Berwick-upon-Tweed, is second son of the late Peter Aplin, Esq., Admiral of the White; brother of Lieut. Benj. Aplin, R.N.; grand-nephew of Christ. D’Oyly, Esq., M.P., Comptroller-General of Accounts during Lord North’s administration; and brother-in-law of Lieut. Orlando Orlebar, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 9 March, 1801, as a Volunteer, on board the Eurydice 24, Capt. Walter Bathurst, with whom, on arriving with the ratification of the Peace of Amiens in the East Indies, he removed, as Midshipman, to the Terpsichore 32, and there, on the renewal of hostilities, came into frequent collision with the enemy. On 15 Aug. 1805, being off St. Denis, Isle of Bourbon, he assisted in one of three boats sent into that port for the purpose of cutting out the French corvette La Turburette a service which was completely effected, although, fully prepared for the attack, the enemy had sheltered their vessel within pistol-shot distance of several heavy batteries, whose fire, as well as that of a neighbouring ship, played on the British with destructive effect. In the execution of this very spirited affair, one boat was sunk, another cut down to the water’s edge, and the tow-rope of the remaining one cut three times. Mr. Aplin, in common with the other officers employed on the occasion, received the personal thanks of the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Edw. Pellew, whom, after a further servitude with Capt. Bathurst in the Pitt 36, he joined, in Aug. 1807, on board the Culloden 74. He had not been many days, however, in the latter ship before he was appointed Acting-Lieutenant of the Psyche frigate, from which he appears to have been transferred in a similar capacity to the Arrogant 74, Capt. Hon. Henry Dawson. Being compelled to invalid, from the effects of long employment in the East Indies, soon after his official promotion, which took place 13 Feb. 1808, Mr. Aplin remained on half-pay until 1810, in the course of which year, and the following, he successively joined the San Josef 110, flag-ship of Sir Chas. Cotton, and Armide 33, Capt. Rich. Dalling Dunn, on the Mediterranean and Home stations. In May, 1813, he assumed command of the Arrow schooner, of 12 guns, in which vessel he shortly afterwards attacked a convoy under the protection of two batteries near Quimper, where he drove a brig and several other vessels on shore. He also performed a similar service under the batteries of Quiberon, at which place he captured the Marie Antoinette and Vierge Marie, and succeeded in destroying a third vessel. Anchoring subsequently under the batteries close to the harbour of Mer de Fife, in the Ile de Ré, Mr. Aplin skilfully managed, under the guise of an American privateer, so thoroughly to deceive the authorities, that his boats were enabled during the night to enter the port and, without creating the slightest suspicion or alarm, to bring out the largest of the enemy’s vessels, Le Bon Samaritan. In the course of the same year he was actively employed under Sir Geo. Ralph Collier, at the siege of St. Sebastian; and he next conducted the blockade of Santona in a manner so efficient, that, although the enemy possessed in that port a corvette, a schooner, and two gun-boats, they were unable to capture any of the numerous British vessels constantly passing. From the period of his advancement to the rank of Commander, 12 March, 1814, Capt. Aplin remained on half-pay until 13 Dec. 1823, when he at length succeeded in obtaining an appointment to the Grasshopper 18. Proceeding in that sloop to Newfoundland, he there assumed command of a small squadron, and acquired the high approbation of Sir Willoughby Thos. Lake, the Commander-in-Chief, and of the Board of Admiralty, for the able and zealous manner in which he discharged several extra-official duties which afterwards devolved upon him in consequence of the abolition of the civil departments of the Navy, and of the absence of the governor of the island. He was promoted to Post-rank 28 Jan. 1826, and, not being able to procure further employment, accepted the Retirement, 1 Oct. 1846.
Capt. Aplin married, in 1816, Anne Elizabeth, youngest daughter of the late Vice-Admiral D’Auvergne, Duke of Bouillon, and sister-in-law of Capt. Henry Prescott, R.N., C.B. By that lady he has issue three sons, of whom the eldest is a Lieutenant in H.M. 28th regiment, and the second a Midshipman, R.N. Agents – Collier and Snee.