A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Carpenter, John Cook
CARPENTER, K.H. (Captain, 1821. f-p., 21; h-p., 45.)
John Cook Carpenter entered the Navy, in 1781, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Convert 36, Capt. Henry Harvey, stationed in the Leeward Islands, where, until 1784, he afterwards served, as Midshipman, in the Renard sloop, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Sir John Laforey, Berbice schooner, Lieut.-Commander Thos. Boulden Thompson, Concorde 36, Capt. Augustus Montgomery, and Alcmene 32, Capt. Wm. Sidney Smith. He next, in 1790, joined the Bellona 74, Capt. Fras. John Hartwell, forming part of the fleet in the Channel; became subsequently attached, on the same station, to the Alcide 74, Capt. Sir Andrew Snape Douglas, Hannibal 74, Capt. John Colpoys, Thetis 38, Capt. F. J. Hartwell, and Defence 74, Capt. Jas. Gambler; and, for his conduct as Master’s Mate of the last-named ship, in Lord Howe’s memorable actions of 28 and 29 May, and 1 June, 1794, was promoted, 1 Aug. following, to a Lieutenancy in the Daedalus 32, Capt. Thos. Williams. Under the latter officer Mr. Carpenter continued to serve (with the exception of a few months in 1795-6, when we find him on board the Abergavenny 54, Capt. Edw. Tyrrell Smith, and Pompée 80, Capt. Jas. Vashon), in the same ship and in the Unicorn 32, and Endymion 40, until Jan. 1800; during which period he once took charge of a prize,[1] and participated in many warm encounters with the enemy, including the Unicorn’s capture of La Ville de l’Orient frigate, armée en flûte, and the Endymion’s action with the Dutch line-of-battle ship Brutus, and her attack, in co-operation with the King’s troops, on the town of Wexford. On the latter occasion he partially commanded a flotilla of cutters and launches, and by his judicious arrangement greatly benefited the public service.[2] He afterwards assumed, likewise on the Home station, the successive command – 6 Oct. 1800, of the Flora hired cutter – in March, 1802, of the Ant schooner – 28 Oct. 1803, of the Hope hired cutter – and, 30 April, 1804, of the Milbrook schooner, of 14 guns, in which he took, 9 May, 1805, La Tranela Spanish privateer of 3 guns and 40 men. Having resigned his command of the Milbrook in Sept. 1806, Mr. Carpenter was next, 11 May and 8 Aug. 1808, appointed to the Ville de Paris 110, and Caledonia 120, flag-ships of Lord Gambier, by whom he was intrusted with the direction of a fire-vessel in the attack on the enemy’s shipping in Basque Roads, 11 April, 1809; as a reward for his exertions on which occasion he was advanced to the rank of Commander by commission dated the same day. His last appointments were – 31 May, 1815, to the Racoon 16, employed off St. Helena and the Ascension – and, 4 June, 1816, to the Zephyr 12. He returned to England, after visiting Rio Janeiro, and was placed on half-pay, 8 Oct. following; attained Post-rank 19 July, 1821; was nominated a K.H. 25 Jan. 1836; and accepted the Retirement 1 Oct. 1846.
He is married and has issue.