A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Knight, John Ellis
KNIGHT. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 27; h-p., 13.)
John Ellis Knight was born 11 Sept. 1791.
This officer entered the Navy, 8 March, 1807, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Trompeuse corvette, Capt. Wm. Brooking Dolling, successively employed in the North Sea, off Lisbon, and in the Downs. During the expedition of 1809 to the Scheldt we find him engaged on shore in the defence of the fort of Balthz, when in vain attacked by a flotilla under the orders of the French Rear-Admiral Massiessy. Previously to the evacuation of the Walcheren he accompanied Capt. Dolling into the Beagle sloop, commanded afterwards by Capt. John Smith, with whom he continued until Oct. 1813, assisting during that period at the cutting out of two gun-boats under Cape Grisnez, the destruction of part of a convoy near Calais, the capture of three armed and other smugglers (services for which Capt. Dolling and a Master’s Mate were each promoted), and the reduction and fortification, during the investment of St. Sebastian, of the important island of Sta. Clara. From Nov. 1813 until Aug. 1815 Mr. Knight was further employed, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, in the Lightning 20, Capts. Bentinck Cavendish Doyle and Geo. Rennie, on the Channel and Cork stations. Being then awarded a commission dated on 1 of the previous March, he was appointed, 5 Jan. 1827, to the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Ramillies 74, Capt. Hugh Pigot, from which, however,, he was obliged, in Oct. 1829, to retire, in consequence of a severe rupture of the left groin, received in the execution of his duty, but for which he has never been able to obtain remuneration. Since 22 April, 1831 (unable to procure other employment), Lieut. Knight has been in command of a station in the Coast Guard. His exertions in that service, as exhibited by numerous strong testimonials, have been most successessful. On 8 of the Oct. following his appointment he had the good fortune, at Atherfield, in the Isle of Wight, to save the lives of 19 of the crew and passengers belonging to the ship Bainbridge, of Halifax, which had been wrecked in a heavy gale.
He married, 7 Aug. 1816, Miss S. Mason, of Yealmpton.