A Naval Biographical Dictionary/De Ros, John Frederick Fitzgerald
DE ROS, F.R.S. (Captain, 1835. f-p., 14; h-p., 1.5.)
The Honourable John Frederick Fitzgerald De Ros, born 6 March, 1804, at Boyle Farm, co. Surrey, is second surviving son of the late Lord Henry Fitzgerald (second son of James, first Duke of Leinster), by Charlotte Baroness De Ros; and only brother of the present Lord De Ros. An elder brother, Arthur John Hill De Ros, died a Lieut.Colonel in the Army, in the 33rd year of his age, 23 Feb. 1826.
This officer entered the Navy, 10 March, 1818, as Midshipman, on board the Tonnant 80, flag-ship of Sir Benj. Hallowell at Cork. He afterwards served, under Capts. Hon. Robt. Cavendish Spencer and Hon. Fred. Spencer, in the Ganymede 26, Owen Glendower 42, Alacrity 10, and Créole 32, on the Mediterranean and South American stations. On 30 May, 1825, he obtained a Lieutenancy in the Jupiter 50, flag-ship at Halifax of Rear-Admiral Willoughby Thos. Lake; subsequently to which he joined – 25 June, 1827, the Royal Sovereign yacht, in which he accompanied H.R.H. the Lord High Admiral, as Flag-Lieutenant, in his first visit to the out-ports – and, 14 Aug. following, the Undaunted 46, Capt. Augustus Wm. Jas. Clifford. Assuming the rank of Commander 24 Jan. 1828, Capt. De Ros was next appointed, 14 May, 1831, to the Algerine 10, on the South American station; where he succeeded, at Cape Frio, in recovering a considerable portion of the treasure from the wreck of H.M. late ship Thetis, and for that service received the warm thanks of the Commander-in-Chief. The Algerine was paid off 3 Dec. 1833. Since that period Capt. De Ros, who acquired Post-rank 7 Feb. 1835, has not been afloat.
Capt. De Ros published, in 1827, a Narrative of Travels made by him in the United States and Canada, together with Observations on the Maritime Resources of North America, and the state of the Dockyards and Navy. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.