A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Parkman, John
PARKMAN. (Lieut., 1812. f-p., 19; h-p., 34.)
John Parkman, born at Portsea, co. Hants, is son of the late Mr. John Parkman, an old and well-known Pilot for the coast of France.
This officer entered the Navy, 11 Nov. 1794, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Robust 74; in which ship, successively commanded by Capts. Edw. Thornbrough, Geo. Countess, Wm. Brown, John Acworth Ommanney, and Wm. Henry Jervis, he continued until July, 1802. In 1795 he was present in Lord Bridport’s action, and in the expedition to Quiberon; he assisted afterwards at the blockade of Brest, L’Orient, and La Rochelle; and on 12 Oct. 1798 he contributed, off the coast of Ireland, to the capture, with a loss to the Robust of 10 killed and 40 wounded, of the French 74-gun ship Le Hoche, one of a squadron commanded by Commodore Bompart. Previously to the latter affair he had aided in landing a body of troops at Wexford. At the commencement of 1802 he made a voyage to the West Indies. After an attachment of a few months, as Admiralty-Midshipman, to the Diamond 38, Capt. Thos. Elphinstone, he was nominated, in June, 1803, Master’s Mate of the Magnificent 74, commanded by his former Captain W. H. Jervis; under whom he was wrecked during a gale of wind off Brest 25 March, 1804. He was in consequence detained a prisoner in France until the end of the war. His promotion to the rank of Lieutenant took place 20 Nov. 1812.
He married, 10 Aug. 1810, at Verdun, and has issue 12 children. Agents – Pettett and Newton.