A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Shairp, John Hamilton
SHAIRP. (Lieutenant, 1844.)
John Hamilton Shairp entered the Navy 19 Dec. 1828; and assisted, when Midshipman, on the coast of Africa, of the Speedwell schooner, Lieut.- Commander Wm. Warren, at the capture, 3 June, 1832, of the Aquila slaver of superior force. He passed his examination .18 May, 1835; served, from 1840 until paid off in 1843, on the East India station, as Mate, in the Favorite 18, Capt. Thos. Ross Sulivan; and on 12 Feb. 1844, soon after he had joined the Apollo troop-ship, Capt. Wm. Maclean, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. His next appointments were – 1 May, 1844, as Additional, to the Illustrious 72, flag-ship of Sir Chas. Adam, Commander-in-Chief in North America and the West Indies – 16 Oct. 1844, to the Scylla 16, Capt. Robt. Sharpe, on the same station, whence he returned at the close of 1845 – and, 11 April, 1846, to the Belleisle troop-ship, Capt. John Kingcome, with whom he remained until paid off in 1848.