A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bulley, John
BULLEY. (Lieut., 1826. f-p., 31; h-p., 4.)
John Bulley was born 22 Dec. 1797, at St. John’s, Newfoundland.
This officer entered the Navy, 12 Feb. 1812, as Midshipman, on board the Swaggerer 18, Lieut.Commanders Geo. Jas. Evelyn and Chas. Deyman Jermy, on the West India station, where he frequently came into contact with the American privateers. He next served, for periods of a few months, in the Liberty 12, Lieut. -Commander Edw. Hooper Senhouse, and Eclipse 18, Capt. Hen. Lynne; and then joined the Charybdis 18, Capt. Jas. Clephan, under whom, after actively sharing in the operations against New Orleans in 1814-15, he conveyed to Sir Geo. Cockburn off Cumberland Island the despatches announcing the failure of the enterprise. On 29 Jan. in the latter year he removed to the Devastation bomb, Capt. Geo. Martin Guise, and he was afterwards slightly wounded while hotly contending in the boats of that vessel and of a squadron against the Americans up the river St. Mary. Mr. Bulley, who was paid off from the Devastation in July, 1815, next became attached, between Feb. 1816, and June, 1826, chiefly as Master’s Mate, to the Weser troop-ship, Capt. Dan. Lawrence, 10-gun brigs Tyrian and Beaver, Capt. Wm. Popham, Sybille 44, bearing the flag of Sir Home Popham, Helicon 10, Capts. Wm. Robt. Dawkins and Thos. Furber, and Halcyon 18, Capt. Jas. Scott, during which period he was effectively employed in destroying the various nests of pirates along the shores of Cuba, the Isle of Pines, and the Gulf of Mexico. Having passed his examination in Feb. 1819, he was confirmed a Lieutenant in the Ferret 10, Capt. Hen. Gosset, 27 Sept. 1826, but, invaliding in March, 1827, from extreme ill health, remained thenceforward on half-pay until 13 May, 1830, when he received his present appointment in the Coast Guard. For the important extra-official services he has since rendered on different occasions, at the Sturt Bay and Atherfield stations, in getting vessels off the rocks, saving the cargoes of the stranded, and rescuing from destruction the crews of the wrecked, Lieut. Bulley has repeatedly obtained the marked approval of the Comptroller-General, has twice received the silver, and once the gold, medal of the Royal Shipwreck Institution, also the large honorary medal voted by the subscribers at Lloyd’s, and the thanks both of the Admiralty and the National Shipwreck Institution – of the former for his “praiseworthy and gallant conduct,” during the memorable gale of 13 and 14 Jan. 1843, in pushing off in his boats, with Lieut. Wm. Vicary, of the adjoining station, when all other means had failed, and saving the crew of the brig George, of Sunderland, which had been reduced to a perfect wreck, and immediately afterwards went to pieces.
He married, 17 Sept. 1828, Sarah Louisa, daughter of Mr. John Pearce, of Haslar Hospital. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.