A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Barclay, John
BARCLAY. (Retired Commander, 1838. f-p., 18; h-p., 32.)
John Barclay entered the Navy, 1 May, 1797, on board the Mastiff, Lieut.-Commander John Black. In Feb. 1798, he became Midshipman of the Repulse 64, Capt. Jas. Alms, and, after an intermediate servitude in the Mediterranean, was on board that ship when lost off Ushant, 10 March, 1800. During the next five years we find him successively serving in the Arethusa 38, Capt. Thos. Wolley, Carysfort 28, Capt. Adam Drummond, Hydra 38, Capt. Geo. Mundy, and Victory 100, bearing the flag of Lord Nelson, whom he accompanied to the West Indies and back in pursuit of the combined squadrons of France and Spain. On 1 Aug. 1803, Mr. Barclay appears to have in part commanded the boats of the Hydra at the capture of the French armed lugger Le Favori, of 4 carriage-guns, hauled close to the beach about two miles to the westward of the river Toucques, near Havre de Grace, and defended by a constant fire of musketry from a body of troops, and also from the crew of the vessel, who had landed and posted themselves behind some sand-banks. On his eventual return, in the Victory, from the West Indies, he was appointed Acting-Lieutenant of the Britannia 100, bearing the flag of Lord Northesk, to which ship, after participating in the battle of Trafalgar, he was confirmed by commission dated 20 Nov. 1805. His subsequent appointments, we find, were – 9 June, 1806, to the Latona 38, Capt. Jas. Atholl Wood, under whom he served at the reduction of Curaçoa, and the blockade of the Danish West India islands in 1807 – 16 Oct. in the latter year, to the Thais, Capt. Ferrieres, chiefly employed at the Cape of Good Hope – 17 June, 1809, to the Fisgard 38, Capts. Sir Wm. Bolton and Fras. Mason, in which frigate he accompanied the expedition to Flushing, assisted in bringing off the rearguard of the British army at the subsequent evacuation of the Walcheren, and was otherwise actively employed – and, 2 June, 1813, to the President 46, Capts. Fras. Mason and Archibald Duff, under whom he witnessed the storming of San Sebastian, and served off the coasts of Ireland and Scotland, for the purpose of affording them protection against the American cruisers. Having been on half-pay since 4 Sept. 1815, he at length accepted the rank he now holds, 12 May, 1838.
Commander Barclay married, in April, 1843, Caroline, daughter of the late Hon. Mr. Justice Rooke.