A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Chesnaye, John Christian
CHESNAYE. (Lieut., 1813. f-p., 14; h-p., 30.)
John Christian Chesnaye, born 29 April, 1791, is nephew of Admiral John Cochet.
This officer entered the Navy, 28 Sept. 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Dryad 36, Capt. John Giffard, on the Irish station; became Midshipman, 29 July, 1805, of the Orion 74, Capt. Edw. Codrington, one of Nelson’s Victorious fleet in the ensuing battle of Trafalgar; and, after an additional servitude in the Madras 54, Capt. Chas. Marsh Schomberg, joined the Endymion 40, Capt. Hon. Thos. Bladen Capel, by whom, subsequently to the passage of the Dardanells, in Feb. 1807, he was detached for the purpose of co-operating with the British forces in Egypt, where we find him present at the investment of Rosetta. On next removing to the Kent 74, Capt. Thos. Rogers, he witnessed, 1 Aug. 1808, the gallant capture of the 10 coasting-vessels at Noli more particularly alluded to in our memoir of Commander Wm. Chasman; after which he joined in succession the St. Alban’s 64, Capt. Fras. Wm. Austen, Procris 18, Capt. Robt. Maunsell, and, as Sub-Lieutenant, 14 Feb. 1810, the Sylvia cutter, of 10 18-pounder carronades and 50 men, Lieut. -Commander Augustus Vere Drury, all in the East Indies. On 7 April following, in charge of a single boat belonging to the latter vessel, Mr. Chesnaye handsomely boarded and took, in the Straits of Sunda, a piratical proa, armed with 2 6-pounders and 30 men. On being appointed four days afterwards to the command of his prize, he similarly sustained, near the island of Cracatoa, a desperate hand-to-hand conflict of four hours with a large lugger-proa of 3 18-pounders and 72 men, which, on the junction of the Sylvia, he ultimately succeeded in sinking, after being himself wounded, with 8 of his volunteer crew; and, on 26 of the same month, at the close of a sharp contest of 20 minutes, during which the enemy had 3 men killed and 7 wounded, and the British 4 killed and 3 wounded, he headed the Sylvia’s boarders at the capture of the Dutch national brig Echo, of 8 6-pounders and 46 men, in Batavia Roads. Although Lieut. Drury was immediately afterwards promoted to the rank of Commander, we regret to observe that Mr. Chesnaye, whose share in the exploits we have narrated was at least equally conspicuous, did not attain the rank of Lieutenant until 17 March, 1813, previously to which period he had further served, in the West Indies and at Portsmouth, on board the Jason 32, and Shark 16, Capts. King and Gore, and Royal William, Capt. Geo. Fowke. He was subsequently appointed, 12 June, 25 July, and 20 Nov. 1813, to the Ardent 64, Capt. John Cochet, St. Domingo 74, flag-ship of Sir John Borlase Warren, and Anaconda 18, Capt. Geo. Augustus Westphal, on the North America and West India stations. He invalided home 8 Oct. 1814, and afterwards held a command in the Coast Guard, from 28 Nov. 1828, until 1832. He has not since been employed.
Lieut. Chesnaye married, 10 April, 1836, and has issue four sons and one daughter.