A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Beckford, John Leigh
BECKFORD. (Commander, 1821. f-p., 16; h-p., 28.)
John Leigh Beckford, an immediate descendant of Col. Peter Beckford, Lieut. Governor and Commander-in-Chief, temp. William III., of the island of Jamaica, is third son of Fras. Love Beckford, Esq., late of Basing Park, Hants, by Johanna, third daughter and co-heir of John Leigh, Esq., of Northcourt House, Isle of Wight. He is grand-nephew of the late Wm. Beckford, Esq., M.P., twice Lord Mayor of the city of London; also of the late Countess of Effingham, wife afterwards of Field Marshal Sir Geo. Howard, K.B.; and cousin of the present Wm. Beckford, Esq., of Fonthill Abbey, co. Wilts.
This officer entered the Navy, 21 March, 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Ardent 64, Capt. Robt. Winthrop, and, on 28 Nov. following, witnessed the destruction in Finisterre Bay of La Bayonnaise French frigate of 32 guns and 200 men. He removed, as Midshipman, for a short time, in 1803, to the Revenge 74, Capt. Robt. Moorsom, fitting at Chatham; was then transferred to the Sybille, Capt. Winthrop, employed on the Channel and Irish stations; and in July, 1807, joined the Canopus 80, bearing the flag in the Mediterranean of Rear-Admiral Geo. Martin, under whom he continued to serve for three years, and during that period, in Oct. 1809, assisted in the pursuit of a French squadron of four sail, two of which, the Robuste of 84, and Lion of 74 guns, were destroyed by their own crews to prevent their falling into the hands of the British. He obtained, while serving in the San Josef 110, flag-ship in the Mediterranean of Sir Chas. Cotton, a commission dated 27 Nov. 1810; was employed during the five following months with the flotilla at the defence of Cadiz; then joined the Standard 64, Capt. Hon. Chas. Elphinstone Fleeming, in which ship he proceeded to Lima for specie; was next, from 13 Feb. 1813, to 30 Aug. 1815, employed, under Capts. Lucius Curtis and Bentinck Cavendish Doyle, off the Western Islands, in the Channel, and on the coast of North America, in the Madagascar 38; obtained an appointment, 8 May, 1818, to the Queen Charlotte 108, flag-ship at Portsmouth of Sir Geo. Campbell; became, 2 Oct. 1819, Flag-Lieutenant, on the Leith station, to Rear-Admiral Robt. Waller Otway, in the Dover 28; and was, in consequence, advanced to his present rank 30 Nov. 1821 He has since been on half-pay.
Commander Beckford married, 6 Nov. 1829, Harriette, fourth daughter of Geo. Ward, Esq., of Northwood House, Isle of Wight.