A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Connolly, John Bell
CONNOLLY. (Retired Commander, 1840. f-p., 24; h-p., 43.)
John Bell Connolly, born in 1772, at Chatham, is eldest brother of Commander Matthew Connolly, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy 24 March, 1780, as Gunner’s Servant, on board the Britannia 100, bearing the flag in the Channel of Vice-Admiral Darby, and afterwards of Hon. Sam. Barrington, under whom he took part in Lord Howe’s partial action with the combined fleets of France and Spain, near Gibraltar, 20 Oct. 1782. Between June, 1783, and Oct. 1789, when he attained the rating of Midshipman, he next served on the Home station on board the 14-gun cutters Cockatrice and Sultana, Lieut.-Commanders Wm. Reynolds and Edw. Roe. He then joined, in succession, the Edgar 74, Capts. Chas. Thompson and Anthony Jas. Pye Molloy, Barfleur 98, Royal George 100, and London 98, flag-ships of Admirals Barrington and Goodall, Sultana, Lieut. -Commander Digby Dent, Duke 98, bearing the flag of Admiral Robt. Roddam, Circe 28, Capt. Alan Hyde Gardner, Centurion 50, Capt. Sam. Osborne, and Boyne 98, flagship of Sir John Jervis; and, having passed his examination 4 Nov. 1791, was promoted, 3 Dec. 1793, to a Lieutenancy in the Dromedary 44, Capt. Sandford Tatham. After assisting at the capture of Martinique, Mr. Connolly removed, 26 March, 1794, to the Veteran 64, Capt. Chas. Edmund Nugent, in time to further co-operate in the reduction of Ste. Lucie, Guadeloupe, Mariegalante, and the Saintes. He was afterwards appointed, 15 Nov. 1796 and 15 June, 1798, to the Prince 98, flag-ship of Sir Roger Curtis, and Ajax 74, Capts. John Pakenham and Hon. Alex. Inglis Cochrane, both on the Channel station; and, from 10 Dec. 1799 until the close of 1806, held, with the exception of a few months during the short-lived peace, the successive command of the Britannia and Gladiator hospital and court-martial ships, at Portsmouth. Being afflicted with acute rheumatism and defective sight, he obtained the out-pension of Greenwich Hospital on 22 Sept. in the latter year; and was ultimately invested with his present rank 24 March, 1840.