A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Blackmore, John
BLACKMORE. (Lieut., 1840. f-p., 14; h-p., 4.)
John Blackmore is cousin of Capt. W. W. Henderson, R.N., C.B.
This officer entered the Navy, 30 June, 1829, as Fst.-cl.Vol., on board the Ramillies 74, Capt. Hugh Pigot, lying in the Downs; and was afterwards, until Dec. 1835, in the course of which month he passed his examination, employed as Midshipman in the Talavera 74, commanded by the same officer, and in the Undaunted 46, and Salamander and Firefly steam-vessels, Capts. Edw. Harvey, Wm. Langford Castle, and Thos. Baldock, on the Home, African, East India, and Mediterranean stations. As Mate, Mr. Blackmore successively joined, in March, 1836, and Oct. 1837, the Minden and Edinburgh 74’s, Capts. Alex. Ronton Sharpe and Wm. Willmott Henderson. After serving on the Lisbon and North America and West India stations, he again visited the Mediterranean, where his exertions throughout the operations on the coast of Syria, including the bombardment of St. Jean d’Acre, procured him a commission, dated 4 Nov. 1840. His next appointments were – 14 Feb. and 17 Sept. 1841, to the Vesuvius steamer, and Rodney 92, Capts. Granville Gower Lock and Robt. Maunsell, both in the Mediterranean – and, 19 Oct. 1842, to the Camperdown 104, bearing the flag of Sir Edw. Brace at Sheerness. On 12 July, 1843, Mr. Blackmore had the misfortune to be desperately wounded by an awful explosion which took place on board that ship during the firing of a royal salute in honour of the King and Queen of the Belgians, who were then passing the Nore. On examination, it was found that he had received an extensive laceration over the right angle of the lower jaw, whence protruded a splinter of wood which had penetrated the superior maxillary bone; that he had been further badly hurt with splinters in the scalp, the effect of which was the almost total destruction of the power of hearing on the right side; that he had also been severely burnt in both hands and legs; and that the calf of one leg had been pierced quite through by splinters 12 inches long. In consequence of such dreadful injuries, he was confined for many months to Melville Hospital at Chatham, and, on 6 March, 1844, was awarded a pension of 91l. 5s. He has not been since employed.