A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Green, John
GREEN. (Lieutenant, 1809.)
John Green served as Midshipman on board the Courageux 74, Capt. Sam. Hood, in the expedition of Aug. 1800 to Ferrol; and, in July, 1801, having accompanied the same officer into the Venerable 74, was next present in Sir Jas. Saumarez’ actions off Algeciras and Cadiz. He afterwards commanded a boat belonging to the Eclair at the cutting out of a vessel from under the enemy’s batteries at Martinique. He also saw a good deal of boat-service off St. Eustatius and on the Spanish Main; was in a boat of the Galatea 32, Capt. Geo. Sayer, at the taking of several armed vessels in the harbour of Barcelona in 1806; and, on 21 Jan. 1807, led, as Master’s Mate, the five boats of that frigate, carrying altogether 75 officers, seamen, and marines, the whole under command of Lieut. Wm. Coombe, at the boarding and capture, after a pursuit (part of the time under a vertical sun) of eight hours, a sharp contest of a quarter of an hour, two repulses, and a loss of 9 men killed and 22 (including himself twice) wounded, of the French national corvette Le Lynx, of 16 guns and 161 men, 14 of whom were slain and 20 wounded. For their zeal and gallantry in the consummation of this desperate exploit, Mr. Green and the other surviving officers were each presented with a sword by the Patriotic Society. During his continuance in the Galatea the subject of this sketch, who, previously to the latter event, had served in her boats at the capture, 12 Nov. 1806, of La Réunion schooner, of 10 guns, further witnessed the surrender of the Danish West India islands in Dec. 1807; and on one occasion, while in command of a tender, armed with a light carronade and 20 men, he captured a vessel of very superior force, after an action in which he was again wounded. He had the misfortune, however, to be soon taken prisoner by a national cutter of 14 guns. He ultimately attained the rank of Lieutenant by commission dated 1 1 Aug. 1809; and, on subsequently joining the Musquito, succeeded in capturing an armed vessel at the mouth of the river Oost. His last appointment appears to have been, on 20 Aug. 1826, to the Coast Blockade, in which he served for some time as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Hyperion 42, Capt. Wm. Jas. Mingaye.
Lieut. Green married, 22 May, 1827, Caroline, youngest daughter of the late Edw. Golding, Esq., of Maiden Eligh, co. Berks, by whom he has issue. Agents – Collier and Snee.