A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Impey, John
IMPEY. (Rear-Admiral of the Red, 1840.)
John Impey is son of the late Sir Elijah Impey. This officer entered the Navy, 28 April, 1785, as Midshipman, on board the Victory 100, Capt. John Knight, bearing the flag of Lord Hood at Portsmouth; and on his return from a voyage to Otaheite, whither he had been sent for the produce of the breadfruit-tree as Master’s Mate of the Providence store-ship, Capt. Wm. Bligh, was received on board the Boyne 98, lying at Spithead under the flag of Sir John Jervis. On being advanced to the rank of Lieutenant, 7 Nov. 1793, he joined the Vesuvius bomb, Capt. Chas. Sawyer, on the West India station; and he was next appointed in that capacity – 17 March, 1795, to the Cumberland 74, Capt. Bartholomew Sam. Rowley, part of Admiral Hotham’s fleet in the action fought off the Hyerea Islands 13 July following – 9 March, 1797, to the Syren frigate, Capt. Thos. Le Marchant Gosselin, employed in the Channel – and, 27 April, 1799, 4 Jan. 1800, and 21 April, 1801, to the Prince of Wales 98, bearing the flag of Admiral Harvey, Unité frigate, Capt. John Poo Beresford, and Leviathan 74, flag-ship of Sir John Thos. Duckworth, all on the West India station. He was confirmed, 15 Jan. 1802, in the command of the Fairy sloop, likewise in the West Indies; on his return whither in the Epervier 16, after having for some time commanded the Alonzo on Home service, we find him effecting the capture, 26 Jan. 1805, of L’Elisabeth schooner privateer, of 4 guns and 34 men. He attained Post-rank 22 Jan. 1806, and in the following Feb. was ordered to England in the Alexandre 80, one of the prizes taken in the action off St. Domingo. He has since been on half-pay. He became a Rear-Admiral on the Retired List 28 June, 1838; and, on 17 Aug. 1840, his name was added to the roll of active flag-officers.