A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Fayrer, Robert John
FAYRER. (Lieut., 1808. f-p., 16; h-p., 29.)
Robert John Fayrer entered the Navy, 11 Nov. 1802, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Caroline 36, Capt. Benj. Wm. Page, stationed in the East Indies; where, from Sept. 1803 until his return home in 1807, he served with the present Sir Josiah Coghill, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, in the Rattlesnake sloop, and Concorde 36. While in the Rattlesnake, he appears to have been in action with some Malay proas; and, on his removal to the Concorde, he commanded the launch of that frigate at the cutting out of the French brig Vigilante of 4 guns. Joining next the Impérieuse 38, Capt. Lord Cochrane, he served with great activity on the coasts of France and Spain, until compelled to invalid in Feb. 1807, from the effects of several wounds (among others a shattered arm) received when in the act of boarding, in open day, off Bastia, an enemy’s vessel, carrying 8 guns and 52 men. Being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, 19 Dec. 1808, while serving as a Supernumerary in the Royal William, Capt. Hon. Courtenay Boyle, flag-ship at Spithead, Mr. Fayrer was afterwards appointed, in that capacity – in Feb. 1809, to the Nayaden, Capt. Fred. Cottrell, employed off Greenland and in the East and West Indies – 1 Feb. 1811, to the Orpheus 36, Capt. Hugh Pigot, under whom he witnessed the earlier operations of the last American war – 22 Sept. 1813, to the Andromeda 22, Capt. Rich. Arthur, stationed off the coasts of Spain and Portugal – and (for passage home from the Mediterranean), 4 July, 1814, to the Pompée 80, Capt. Sir Jas. Athol Wood. Lieut. Fayrer, who had been on half-pay since Aug. 1814, was appointed Superintendent, 3 April, 1843, of the Tenedos convict-hulk at Bermuda, – in which capacity he is still employed.
A gratuity from the Patriotic Fund was presented to him in 1808, in consideration of his severe wounds. Agents – Goode and Lawrence.