A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Mercer, John Davis
MERCER. (Commander, 1824. f-p., 14; h-p., 35.)
John Davis Mercer entered the Navy, in 1798 as Midshipman, on board the Perdrix 22, Capt. Wm. Chas. Fahie, on the books of which ship, stationed in the Leeward Islands, his name was borne until the following year. We next, in 1801, find him on board the Berschermer 54, Capt. Alex. Fraser, off Harwich; and, in 1805, rejoining Capt. Fahie in the Amelia frigate, on the West India station; where, on following him into the Ethalion, he assisted at the capture of the Danish islands of St. Thomas and Ste. Croix in Dec. 1807. In 1808 he returned to England in the Ramillies 74, Capt. Robt. Tarker, but, being soon ordered back in the Gloire 38, Capt. Jas. Carthew, was again, in the course of the same year, placed under the orders of Capt. Fahie as Master’s Mate on board the Belleisle 74 – following him afterwards into the Pompée and Abercromby of similar force The Belleisle, we may here observe, formed part of the squadron employed at the reduction of Martinique in Feb. 1809; and, in the ensuing April the Pompée, with a loss to herself of 9 men killed and 30 wounded, proved the captor, when in company with the Castor 32, of the French 74-gun ship, d’Haupoult, between 80 and 90 of whose people were killed and wounded. Attaining the rank of Lieutenant 8 Dec. 1809, Mr. Mercer continued employed in that capacity in the West Indies for a further period of nearly four years in the Pultusk sloop, Capts. Wm. Elliott and John M‘George, Pelorus 18, Capt. Thos. Huskisson, Abercromby again, Capt. W. C. Fahie, Cygnet sloop, commanded by various officers. Dragon 74 and Grampus 50, flag-ships of Sir Fras. Laforey, and Cleopatra frigate, Capt. Chas. Gill. His next appointments were, 18 March, 1821, to the Salisbury 50, Capt. John Wilson, on the Leeward Island station, and 5 Aug. in the same year to the Forte 44, as Flag-Lieutenant to the late Sir Edw. Griffith Colpoys, Commander-in-Chief at Halifax, where he afterwards, in the Salisbury, filled the like post under his early friend Rear-Admiral Fahie. He acquired his present rank 9 Sept. 1824, and has since been on half-pay. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.