A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Moberly, John
MOBERLY. (Captain, 1815. f-p., 14; h-p., 32.)
John Moberly entered the Navy, 20 Aug. 1801, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Triumph 74, Capt. Sir Robt. Barlow. After rather more than three years’ servitude in that ship in the Mediterranean, chiefly in the capacity of Midshipman, he became in succession attached, between Dec. 1804 and his attainment of the rank of Lieutenant, 14 Oct. 1807, to the Barfleur 98, Capt. Geo. Martin, Triumph 74, Capt. Henry Inman (part of the force engaged in Sir Robt. Calder’s action, 22 July, 1805), London and Barfleur 98’s, both commanded by Sir Robt. Barlow, Edgar 74, flag-ship of Lord Keith, Namur 74, Capt. Lawrence Wm. Halsted, and Elizabeth 74, Capt. Hon. Henry Curzon – all on the Home station. In July, 1808, having been intermediately employed in the Cumberland 74, Capt. Hon. Philip Wodehouse, and as Flag-Lieutenant to Sir John Borlase Warren, in the Swiftsure 74, in the North Sea and North America, he obtained an appointment to the Melampus 36, Capt. Edw. Hawker. In that frigate, besides assisting in making prize of several privateers, we find him, in the course of 1809-10, escorting a fleet of transports from Halifax to Barbadoes, lending his aid to the capture of Le Colibri French brig-of-war of 16 guns and 92 men, and co-operating in the reduction of Guadeloupe. Removing, in June, 1811, to the Little Belt, Capt. Arthur Batt Bingham, he served as Senior of that vessel in the furious and well-known action fought between her and the American 44-gun frigate President whose fire in half an hour not only greatly damaged her opponent in masts, sails, rigging, and hull, but killed and wounded 32 of her crew. In a gale which arose after the battle, Mr. Moberly, who had proved himself in every respect a most excellent officer, afforded his Captain very great assistance by personally stopping the leaks, securing the masts, and doing everything in his power.[1] On leaving the Little Belt he made a voyage it appears to St. Helena in the Iphigenia 36, Capt. Lucius Curtis, and again officiated as Flag-Lieutenant to Sir J. B. Warren, in the San Domingo 74, on the North American station. He attained the rank of Commander 29 May, 1813; was appointed, in the following July, to the Moselle sloop, at Jamaica; and on 26 Aug. 1815 was posted. He accepted the Retirement 1 Oct. 1846.
Capt. Moberly is at present Inspector of Licences at Simcoe, Upper Canada.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1811, p. 1296.