A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Davies, John (a)
DAVIES. (Commander, 1816. f-p., 16; h-p., 34.)
John Davies was born 3 May, 1781.
This officer entered the Navy, 28 Sept. 1797, as A. B., on board the Sulphur 12, Capts. Jas. Keith Sheppard and John Wainwright, under whom, during the three following years, he was frequently in action with the enemy’s batteries and flotilla at Havre de Grace. From Aug. 1803 to March, 1808, he next served, in the North Sea and Baltic, on board the St. Alban’s 64, Capt. John Temple, and Dictator 64, Capts. Jas. Macnamara and Donald Campbell; and, while in the latter ship, was present at the bombardment of Copenhagen in Sept. 1807, and commanded, 9 Aug. 1808, a gun-boat, under Capt. Macnamara, at the attack and capture, previous to the embarkation from Nyeborg of the Marquis de la Romana and his army, of a Danish man-of-war brig, the Fama of 18, and her consort, the Salorman cutter of 12 guns. On leaving the Dictator, Mr. Davies rejoined the last-mentioned officer in the Edgar 74; from which ship, having passed his examination 3 Feb. 1806, he was promoted, 25 Nov. 1808, to an Acting-Lieutenancy in the Hound bomb, Capt. Nich. Lockyer. He was confirmed by the Admiralty in his new rank 2 Feb. 1809; and was subsequently appointed – 22 May following, again to the Edgar – 10 March, 1810, to the Berwick 74, Capts. J. Macnamara and Edw. Brace – 16 June, 1812, to the Thames 32, Capts. Chas. Napier and John Strutt Peyton – 26 Feb. 1814, to the Warspite 74, Capt. Lord Jas. O’Bryen – and, 25 March, 1815, and 3 July, 1816, to the Boyne 98, and Queen Charlotte 100, flag-ships of Lord Exmouth. When in the Berwick, Mr. Davies assisted in causing the destruction, near Barfleur, of the French 40-gun frigate Amazone, 25 March, 1811; and, while Senior of the Thames, he acquired, in 1813, the approbation of his commander by his conduct at the capture,[1] in face of considerable opposition, of the island of Ponza, and cooperated with the patriots on the coast of Catalonia, where he served at the arduous reduction of the Col de Balaguer. For his exertions at the bombardment of Algiers, 27 Aug. 1816, on which occasion he commanded a gun-boat, Lieutenant Davies was advanced to his present rank, by commission dated 8 Oct. in the same year.[2] He has since been on half-pay.
He married, 10 Oct. 1820, Maria, youngest daughter of Peter Pavin, Esq., of Milford Haven, co. Pembroke, by whom he has issue two children.