A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Podmore, John George King
PODMORE. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 9; h-p., 40.)
John George King Podmore entered the Navy, 17 Aug. 1798, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Prompte 20, Capts. Thos. Dundas, Matthias Spread, and Robt. Philpot, in which ship we find him serving until Oct. 1800 in the West Indies, and there assisting at the destruction of a Spanish vessel-of-war, pierced for 26 guns, but with only 12 mounted. From the date last mentioned he did not again go afloat until Dec. 1807. Returning, then, to the West Indies as Midshipman in the Variable, Lieut.-Commander Robt. Ballard Yates, he continued employed on that station in the Sandwich, Lieut.-Commander Edw. Kingston Foley, and Musette sloop, Capt. Thos. Parry Jones Parry, until transferred, in July, 1810, to the Fawn 18, Capts. Hon. Geo. Alfred Crofton and Thos. Fellowes, attached to the force in the Channel; where he assisted at the capture, 11 Oct. following, of Le Téméraire privateer, of 10 guns, 6 large swivels, and 35 men; and, in April and May, 1812, removed to the Oberon and Griffon sloops, Capts. Jas. Murray and Geo. Barne Trollope. In April, 1813, after he had been for three months borne as Master’s Mate on the books of the Ceres, flag-ship at Chatham of Rear-Admiral Thos. Surridge, he sailed for Canada in the Niobe 40, Capt. Wm. Augustus Montagu; and on his arrival in the ensuing June joined the Naval Establishment on Lake Ontario, under the orders of Commodore Sir Jas. Lucas Yeo. In a gallant but unsuccessful endeavour made, 30 May, 1814, by a detachment of 180 seamen and marines, under Capts, Stephen Popham and Francis Brockell Spilsbury, to cut out 18 American gun-boats lying at Sandy Creek under the protection of a powerful land force, Mr. Podmore fell into the hands of the enemy, by whom 18 of his companions had been killed and 50 wounded. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 14 March, 1815, but has not been since afloat. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.