A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Shepherd, John (a)
SHEPHERD. (Retired Captain, 1847. f-p., 18; h-p., 36.)
John Shepherd (a) entered the Navy, 15 Feb. 1793, as Midshipman, on board the Ramillies 74, Capts. Henry Harvey, Chas. John Moore Mansfield, and Sir Rich. Bickerton, in which ship he fought in Lord Howe’s action, 1 June, 1794, and was afterwards employed in the West Indies, at Newfoundland, and in the North Sea. In Nov. 1796, six months after he had left the Ramillies, he joined the Prince of Wales 98, bearing the flag of his former Captain, then Rear-Admiral Harvey, under whom he assisted, in Feb. 1797, in reducing the Spanish island of Trinidad. From Oct. 1797 until May, 1802, he served as Acting-Lieutenant and Lieutenant (commission dated 10 May, 1799) in the Concorde, Lapwing, and Unité frigates, all commanded by Capt. Thos. Harvey. In the Lapwing he accompanied the expedition of 1799 against the Dutch colony of Surinam; and in the Unité he contributed to the capture of the Danish and Swedish islands in 1801. His last appointments were – 22 Nov. 1802, to the Albion 74, Capt. John Ferrier, employed at first in the Channel and next in the East Indies, whence, in 1804, he escorted an East India fleet under Commodore Dance to St. Helena – in June, 1805, for a passage home, to the Athénienne 64, Capt. Fras. Fayerman – 6 Nov. 1805, 11 March, 1806, and 2 Sept. 1807, to the Oberon sloop, Capt. Bushby, Regulus 44, bearing the flags of Admirals Lord Keith and Sir Edm. Nagle, and St. George 98, flag-ship of Rear-Admirals Elias Harvey and Fras. Pickmore, on the Home and Baltic stations – and in Oct. 1810, after five months of half-pay, to the Berwick 74, Capts. Jas. Macnamara, Sir Robt. Laurie, and Edw. Brace. In the latter ship, prior to visiting the Mediterranean, he assisted, 24 March, 1811, in driving the French frigate Amazone on the rocks near Barfleur light-house. He attained the rank of Commander 12 Aug. 1812, and was placed on the list of Retired Captains, 20 Nov. 1847. Agent – J. Hinxman.