A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Cornwall, John
CORNWALL. (Commander, 1826. f-p., 10; h-p., 28.)
John Cornwall, born 22 Jun. 1795, is eldest son of the late John Cornwall, Esq., of Hendon, co. Middlesex; maternal grandson of Admiral the first Lord Gardner; and first-cousin of Lieut. Alan Henry Gardner, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 13 April, 1809, as Sec.-cl. Boy, on board the Repulse 74, Capt. Hon. Arthur Kaye Legge, and in the course of the same year attended the expedition to the Walcheren. In Dec. he became Midshipman of the Thames 32, Capt. Hon. Granville Geo. Waldegrave; and, continuing to serve with that officer, in the same ship and the Volontaire 38, until his promotion, 13 April, 1815, witnessed a variety of active operations in the Mediterranean. In the boats of the former ship he aided at the capture and destruction of a large and well-protected convoy near Amanthea 25 July, 1810, and was wounded while contributing to the demolition of 10 large armed feluccas on the beach close to Cetraro, in the Gulf of Policastro, 16 June, 1811:[1] in those of the Volontaire he assisted in wrenching from the enemy a national schooner of 4 guns, and 20 merchantmen, near the town of St. Mary’s, 29 April, 1812, and was twice employed, 30 March and 2 May, 1813, in taking convoys and destroying the batteries at Morjean, between Toulon and Marseilles, besides participating in one or two other affairs of minor note. Mr. Cornwall next served from 13 April, 1813, until Aug. 1819, with Capt. Wm. Bowles in the Amphion and Creole frigates, stationed for the protection of trade in South America; and was lastly appointed, 6 April, 1826, to the Gloucester 74, Capt. Joshua Sydney Horton, in which ship we find him conveying the Duke of Devonshire to St. Petersburg, on the occasion of his Grace’s embassy to that court. Being senior officer at Cronstadt at the time of the conflagration which shortly afterwards broke out in the arsenal at that place, Mr. Cornwall so materially assisted in subduing its ravages that the Emperor in acknowledgment presented him with an elegant ring. His promotion to the rank of Commander bears date 22 Nov. 1826.
Commander Cornwall married, 5 Dec. 1822, Charlotte Susan, sister of the present Sir John Kenward Shaw, Bart., and of the late Capt. Chas. Shaw, R.N., by whom he has issue three sons and two daughters. Agents – Hallett and Robjnson.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1810, p. 1860, and Gaz. 1811, p. 1864.