A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Pickthorn, John
PICKTHORN. (Lieutenant, 1808. f-p., 18; h-p., 33.)
John Pickthorn is a native of Devonport, co. Devon.
This officer entered the Navy, 12 Oct. 1796, as Ordinary, on board the Alexander 74, Capts. Joseph Bullen, Alex. John Ball, and P. Ormsby; in which ship he came into frequent action with the enemy’s gun-boats and batteries in the neighbourhood of Cadiz, and took part in the battle of the Nile, in the blockade of Malta, and in various operations along the coast of Italy. Quitting the Alexander in Sept. 1800, he was next, until April, 1802, employed on the Mediterranean and Home stations as Midshipman (a rating he had previously attained) in the Guillaume Tell 84, Capt. Thos. Elphinstone, flag-ship of Admiral Milbank, Alkmaar, Capt. Fred. Lewis Maitland, and Malta 84, Capt. Albemarle Bertie. In March, 1803, he returned to the latter ship, commanded at the time by Capt. Edw. Buller on the coast of Spain; and, from July, 1804, until Oct. 1806, he served in the West Indies and Channel on board the Eagle and Kent 74’s, and Ville de Paris 110, all flagships of Sir Edw. Thornbrough; whom, in Feb. 1807, after having been for about three months attached to the Acasta 40, Capt. Philip Beaver, he again joined in the Royal Sovereign 100, on the Mediterranean station. On 3 March, 1808, he was made Lieutenant into the Eagle 74, Capt. Chas. Rowley, also in the Mediterranean; where, from the following July until Jan. 1812, and from May in the latter year until Oct. 1814, we find him employed a second time in the Royal Sovereign 100, Capts. Henry Garrett, David Colby, Abel Ferris, Henry Whitmarsh Pearse, Joseph Spear, John Harvey, and Wm. Bedford, and Unicorn 32, Capts. Geo. Burgoyne Salt and Sam. Geo. Pechell. During the first four months of his last servitude in the Royal Sovereign he officiated as Flag-Lieutenant to Sir E. Thornbrough. Since he left the Unicorn he has not been afloat.
In the winter of 1840-1 Lieut. Pickthorn appears to have been engaged in raising men for the Navy at Aberdeen. He married the only daughter of Jas. Russell, Esq., Master-Attendant at North Yarmouth.