A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Rhodes, John Henry
RHODES. (Commander, 1814. f-p., 13; h-p., 34.)
John Henry Rhodes, born 28 May, 1788, is eldest surviving son of the late Geo. Rhodes, Esq., of Exeter College, Oxford, Vicar of Colyton Shute and Monckton, co. Devon, by Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. John Sleech, Archdeacon of Cornwall; and brother of Capt. Chas. Sleech Rhodes, of the Royal Engineers, who was killed at the storming of St. Sebastian 31 Aug. 1813. Paternally and maternally he descends from the Earls of Devon and the Plantagenets. His grandfather, Geo. Rhodes, Esq., married a daughter of the Rev. Archdeacon Baker, Vicar of Modbury, and sister of Sir Geo. Baker, Bart., Physician to George III. The Commander succeeded his brother, Geo. Ambrose Rhodes, Esq., in the estates of Bellair and Shapwick, both in co. Devon, 21 Sept. 1842.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 Sept. 1800, as a Boy, on board the Princess Augusta yacht, lying in the river Thames, where he remained until June, 1802. Re-embarking, 26 May, 1803, on board La Chiffonne 36, he served in that frigate and the Resistance 38, as Fst.-cl. Vol., Midshipman, and Master’s Mate, under the present Sir Chas. Adam, until made Lieutenant, 11 Feb. 1808, into the Trident 64. When in company, in La Chiffonne, with the Falcon sloop. Clinker gun-brig, and Frances armed cutter, he assisted, after a chase of nine hours (during which the British suffered some loss from the incessant fire of the forts alongshore, and he himself was struck by a splinter), in driving under the batteries of Fécamp a division of the French flotilla, consisting of 2 corvettes and 15 gun-vessels, carrying in all 51 guns, 4 8-inch mortars, and 3 field-pieces, accompanied by 14 transports. This took place in the summer of 1805. While attached to the Resistance Mr. Rhodes witnessed the capture of the Marengo 80, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Linois, and 40-gun frigate Belle Poule. He also aided in bringing a considerable quantity of freight home from Vera Cruz, and was present at the capture ot L’Aigle privateer of 14 guns and 66 men. After serving for about 12 months at Malta in the Trident, part of the time as Flag-Lieutenant to Sir Alex. John Ball, he removed, 28 Feb. 1809, to the Herald 18, Capt. Geo. Jackson. In that vessel he was often in action with the enemy’s gun-boats and batteries in the Faro of Messina while engaged in protecting Sicily against the invasion threatened by Murat. From 30 March, 1812, until promoted to the rank of Commander 15 June, 1814, Mr. Rhodes served on the Home station in the Impregnable 104, flag-ship of Admirals Wm. Young and H.R.H. the Duke of Clarence, under the latter of whom he assisted, as First-Lieutenant, in escorting the Allied Sovereigns to England. Since his promotion he has been on half-pay.
He married, 23 Sept. 1817, Barbara, only child of Chas. Clay, Esq., of Rhyllow House, near St. Asaph.