A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Greer, John Miers
GREER. (Retired Commander, 1840. f-p., 16; h-p., 38.)
John Miers Greer, born 4 April, 1778, is sixth son of the late John Greer, Esq., of Grange M‘Gregor, co. Tyrone, a Justice of the Peace, and Deputy-Governor of cos. Armagh and Tyrone for upwards of 50 years, by Catherine, daughter of John Cuppage, Esq., of Garden Hill, co. Antrim.
This officer entered the Navy, 13 May, 1793, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Invincible 74, Capt. Hon. Thos. Pakenham, one of Lord Howe’s victorious fleet in the action of 1 June, 1794. In 1796, after having further served with the same officer in La Juste 80, he became Midshipman, in the Mediterranean, of the Amphitrite frigate, Capt. Hon. Chas. Herbert; on subsequently accompanying whom into the Amelia 38, he was present at the defeat of Commodore Bompart’s squadron off the coast of Ireland in Oct. 1798. After that event he removed to the Royal George 100, bearing the flag in the Channel of Lord Bridport, by whom he was soon appointed Acting-Lieutenant of the Neptune 98, Capt. Jas. Vashon. He was confirmed, 20 Sept. 1799, into La Suffisante sloop, Capts. Jonas Rose and Christ. John Williams Nesham, employed on the Plymouth station, where he continued until the peace. His next appointments were – 12 April, 1803, to the Grampus 50, Capt. Thos. Gordon Caulfeild, on the East India station, whence he invalided in June, 1804 – 22 July, 1805, to the Espoir brig, Capts. Joseph Edmonds, Wm. King, and Hen. Hope, in which vessel, after assisting at the reduction of the Cape of Good Hope, he proceeded to the Mediterranean – 8 July, 1808, to the Podargus, Capts. Wm. Hellard and John Lloyd, from which vessel he was superseded about 1811 – and, 21 Feb. 1829, to the command of the Plumper 12, on the coast of Africa. He invalided from the latter station in Jan. 1830; and, on 14 March, 1840, he accepted the rank he now holds.
Commander Greer was admitted to the out-pension of Greenwich Hospital 10 Aug. 1832.