A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Davy, John
DAVY. (Commander, 1814. f-p., 11; h-p., 33.)
John Davy, born 5 June, 1789, is only surviving son of the late Rev. Wm. Davy, of Ingoldsthorpe, co. Norfolk, by his first-cousin, Elizabeth, daughter of Edw. Davy, Esq., of Milsham. One of his brothers, Henry, in the Royal Engineers, was killed at Corunna, with Sir John Moore, in Jan. 1809; and another, William, also an officer in the army, was drowned at St. Helena in Dec. 1818.
This officer entered the Navy, 10 June, 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Colossus 74, commanded by the present Sir Geo. Martin, whom he afterwards followed, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, into the Glory, Barfleur, and Queen 98’s, and into the Canopus 80. While in the Barfleur, he took part in Sir Robt. Calder’s action, 22 July, 1805; and, when in the Canopus in 1807-9, he saw much gun-boat service in the Faro of Messina, and beheld the reduction of the islands of Ischia and Procida. On next removing to the Ville de Paris 110, bearing the flag of Lord Collingwood, he served in the boats under Lieut. John Tailour, on the night of 31 Oct. 1809, at the capture and destruction, after a fearful struggle, and a loss to the British of 15 men killed and 55 wounded, of the French armed store-ship Lamproie, of 16 guns and 116 men, bombards Victoire and Grondeur and armed xebec Normande, with a convoy of seven merchant-vessels, defended by numerous strong batteries in the Bay of Rosas. He was appointed, 5 Nov. following, Acting-Lieutenant of the Cumberland 74, Capt. Hon. Philip Wodehouse, to which ship the Admiralty confirmed him by commission dated 5 Jan. 1810. He returned home from the Mediterranean in April, 1811, on board the Pylades 18, Capt. Geo. Ferguson; subsequently to which he cruized, early in 1812, off the coast of Ireland, in the Hamadryad 36, Capt. Sir Thos. Staines. From 20 May, 1812, until promoted to his present rank, 15 July, 1814, he was again employed under his patron, Vice-Admiral Martin, as his Flag-Lieutenant, in the Impetueux, Stately, and Rodney, line-of-battle ships, off Lisbon and Cadiz. Commander Davy has not, since the latter date, been afloat.
He married, in Feb. 1832, Katherine, eldest daughter of the late Rich. Davy, Esq., of Toxford, co. Suffolk, and has issue a son and four daughters. Agent – J. Hinxman.