A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Barnes, John
BARNES. (Lieut., 1813. f-p., 20; h-p., 25.)
John Barnes (a) entered the Navy, in Oct. 1802, as a Volunteer, on board the Hunter 18, Capt. Sam. Hood Inglefield. Proceeding in 1803 to the West Indies with the despatches announcing the declaration of war with France, he there assisted in capturing many of the enemy’s privateers and merchantmen. In March, 1807, he became Midshipman of the Goliath 74, Capt. Peter Puget, and after sharing, we believe, in the expedition to Copenhagen, removed to the Leviathan 74, Capt. John Harvey, under whom, on 25 Oct. 1809, he witnessed the destruction, by a squadron under Rear-Admiral Geo. Martin, of the French line-of-battle ships Robuste and Lion, off Frontignan. From Jan. 1811 until officially promoted, 30 Sept. 1813, Mr. Barnes further served, part of the time as Acting-Lieutenant, and principally at the defence of Cadiz, in the San Juan 74, Capt. Chas. Vinicombe Penrose, the Hound 18, Capts. Chas. Philips and Chas. Squire, also in No. 15 gun-boat, and in the Revenge, Impétueux, and Stately, flag-ships of Hon. Arthur Kaye Legge and Vice-Admiral Geo. Martin. He was employed, during the rest of the war, again in the San Juan, and also in the Zenobia 16, Capts. Rich. Foley and Nich. Chas. Dobree. His subsequent appointments were – 23 Dec. 1831, to the command of the Semaphore at Portsmouth, which he retained until 15 Feb. 1837 – 1 Aug. 1839, to the Victory 104, commanded at the latter port by Capt. Fras. Erskine Loch – and, 18 Sept. 1841, to the command of the Nightingale steamer. He was placed on half-pay in the spring of 1842, and has not since been employed.