A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Groom, John
GROOM. (Lieut., 1823. f-p., 13; h-p., 24)
John Groom was born in April, 1797. He is nephew, maternally, of the late Roger Sutton, Esq., uncle of Admiral Sir John Sutton, K.C.B.
This officer entered the Navy, 8 Dec. 1810, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Vengeance 74, Capt. Thos. Brown, flag-ship in the Channel and off Lisbon of the late Sir Joseph Sydney Yorke. He next joined in succession the Bulwark 74, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Rich. King, and, as Midshipman, the Loire 38, Capt. Brown. In the autumn of 1814, while absent in a prize – the second with which he had been intrusted – Mr. Groom had the misfortune to he himself captured by the Americans, who detained him a prisoner until the end of the war. He then joined the Tonnant 80, bearing the flag of Sir Alex. Cochrane, and before long sailed for China in the Horatio 38, Capt. Wm. Henry Dillon. Passing his examination in Jan. 1817, he next served, between April, 1818, and the date of his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant 22 Oct. 1823, on the East India, Home, and West India stations, part of the time as Acting-Lieutenant, in the Phaeton 46, Capts. W. H. Dillon, Sir Wm. Augustus Montagu, and Henry Evelyn Pitfield Sturt, Bustard 10, Capt. Rawdon Maclean, and Eden 26, Capt. John Lawrence. He continued to be employed in the latter ship until Jan. 1825. He then invalided, and has since been on half-pay. On 25 July, 1834, he was nominated First of the Malabar 74, Capt. Sir W. A. Montagu; but, his health at the time preventing the possibility of his joining, the appointment was cancelled.
Lieut. Groom, prior to his promotion, appears to have been in the enjoyment of a small pension for injuries received in the service. Agent – J. Chippendale.