A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Keeling, John James
KEELING. (Lieut., 1812. f-p., 32; h-p., 11.)
John James Keeling entered the Navy, in May, 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Montagu 74, Capt. Robt. Waller Otway. During the period he continued in that ship he was present as Midshipman in 1805 in Admiral Cornwallis’ attack on the French fleet close in with Brest Harbour, on which occasion the Montagu exchanged fire with L’Alexandre, a French 80-gun ship. He also assisted at the evacuation of Scylla in 1808, and co-operated with the patriots on the coast of Catalonia. After he had further served with Capt. Otway in the Malta 80, and with Rear- Admiral Hon. Robt. Stopford in the Spencer 74, he joined, in Jan. 1809, the Victorious 74, Capts. Graham Eden Hamond and John Talbot. In the course of the same year we find him accompanying the expedition to the Walcheren. He was next employed on boat-service in the Faro of Messina; and on 21 Feb. 1812, the Victorious being at the time in company with the Weasel 18, he shared, as Master’s Mate, and attracted the notice of Capt. Talbot by his conduct, in a most gallant conflict of four hours and a half, which terminated in the capture, with a loss to the former ship of 27 men killed and 99 wounded, and to the enemy of 400 killed and wounded, of the French 74 Rivoli, whose consorts, three brigs and two gun-boats, were at the same time defeated.[1] Being re-appointed to the {{sc|Victorious}, 10 Aug. 1812, Mr. Keeling (who had left her when promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 13 of the previous May) commanded her tender in the attacks upon Crany Island and New Hampton in 1813. From 4 Oct. 1814 until Feb. 1815, and from 27 Aug. in the latter year until he invalided 4 May, 1816, he presents himself to our notice as serving in the Channel and East Indies on board the Amaranthe 18, and Challenger 16, Capts. Rich. Augustus Yates and Henry Forbes. His appointments have since been – 7 July, 1826, to the Coast Guard – 29 Sept. 1832, to the command of the Shamrock Revenue-vessel – 24 Sept. 1835, a second time to the Coast Guard – 10 Oct. 1838, again to the Shamrock --and 20 June, 1843, once more to the Coast Guard, in which service he is at present employed.
Lieut. Keeling, we understand, enjoys a pension of 91l. 5s. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1812, p. 852.