A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Robb, John
ROBB. (Captain, 1841.)
John Robb entered the Navy 8 July, 1812; passed his examination in 1819; and while attached to the Naiad 46, Capt. Hon. Robt. Cavendish Spencer, contributed in her boats to the brilliant destruction, on the night of 23 May, 1824, of a 16-gun brig moored in a position of extraordinary strength alongside the walls of the fortress of Bona, in which was a garrison of about 400 men, who from cannon and musket kept up a tremendous fire almost perpendicularly on the deck. Being made Lieutenant, 16 March, 1827, into the Asia 84, bearing the flag of Sir Edw. Codrington in the Mediterranean, he commanded a tender belonging to that ship (the Hind cutter) at the battle of Navarin, where the services he rendered had the effect of procuring him a second promotal commission dated 1 May, 1829. From 24 Oct. 1836 until posted, on his return to England, 22 Feb. 1841, he commanded the Satellite 18, on the North America and West India station. Since 12 Dec. 1845 he has been employed in the Channel and Mediterranean in the Gladiator steam-vessel of 430-horse power.
In Feb. 1845 Capt. Robb was sent out, in conjunction with Capts. Henry John Codrington and Jas. Crawford Caffin, in the Black Eagle, on an experimental cruize with the royal steam-yacht Victoria and Albert and Rattler (screw) steamer, for the purpose of reporting on the capabilities of those vessels.