A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Middleton, John
MIDDLETON. (Lieut., 1811. f-p., 12; h-p., 31.)
John Middleton entered the Navy, 5 Feb. 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Montagu 74, Capt. Robt. Waller Otway; and on 22 Aug. 1805 was present, as Midshipman, in Admiral Hon. Wm. Cornwallis’ pursuit of the French fleet into Brest, on which occasion the Montagu exchanged fire with the French 80-gun ship L’Alexandre. After assisting at the evacuation of Scylla, and further serving with Capt. Otway on board the Malta 80, he became attached as a Supernumerary, in Nov. 1808, to the Salvador del Mundo, flag-ship at Plymouth of Admiral Young. Joining next, in Jan. 1809, the Tribune 36, Capt. Geo. Reynolds, he shared, in the course of that year, in an action fought with several Danish gun-boats in the Belt; and, on 12 May, 1810, he was afforded an opportunity of participating in a gallant conflict of two hours and a quarter, in which the same frigate, with a loss of 9 men killed and 15 wounded, beat off, on the coast of Norway, four Danish brigs-of-war, carrying altogether 74 guns. As a reward for his conduct in the latter affair, Mr. Middleton, on proceeding to the West Indies, was appointed, 28 April, 1811, Admiralty-Midshipman of the Dragon 74, flag-ship of Sir Fras. Laforey, who, on 5 of the ensuing month, nominated him Lieutenant of the Arachne 18, Capt. Sam. Chambers – an act which was sanctioned by a commission bearing date 29 Oct. in the same year. He served last, from 10 April, 1812, until 5 July, 1813, and from 19 Nov. following until Jan. 1816, in his former ship the Tribune, still commanded by Capt. Reynolds, and in the Medina 20, Capt. Henry Bourchier, on the West India and Newfoundland stations.
The Lieutenant married, 11 April, 1822, a daughter of ___ Scott, Esq., of Parliament Street, London.