A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Simpson, John (d)
SIMPSON. (Lieut., 1808. f-p., 41; h-p., 11.)
John Simpson (b) was born 2 Nov. 1777.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 Aug. 179.5, as L.M., on board the Mercury 28, Capts. Hon. Geo. Byng and Thos. Rogers, in which ship he served with activity on the Newfoundland and Lisbon stations until Jan. 1798 – the last 15 months in the capacity of Midshipman. From 19 July, 1798, until 14 Jan. 1802, he was employed on the Home station in the Heroine frigate, Capt. Hon. John Murray; and, from July, 1803, until May, 1805, in the Tribune 36, Capts. Geo. Henry Towry and Rich. Henry Alex. Bennett. He passed his examination 7 Oct. 1801. In July, 1806, he became Master’s Mate (a rating he had held for 16 months on board the Tribune) of the Royal George 100, flag-ship of Sir John Thos. Duckworth, under whom, in Feb. 1807, he passed the Dardanells. After serving for eight months with Lords Gardner and Gambier in the Ville de Paris 110, he was made Lieutenant, 28 July, 1808, into the Bonne Citoyenne 20, Capt. John Thompson, stationed on the coast of Spain; where, as he had been on board the latter vessel, he was appointed, 3 April, 1809, First of the Goldfinch of 10 guns (8 18-pounder carronades and 2 sixes) and 75 men, Capts. Firzherbert Geo. Skinner and Arden Adderley; under the former of whom he assisted in beating off, 18 May following, the French corvette Mouche of 16 long brass 8-pounders and 180 men, at the close of an action of four hours, in which the British vessel, besides being much cut up, sustained a loss of 3 men killed and 3 wounded. On this occasion he was himself slightly wounded. He was next employed – from Oct. 1809 until May, 1811, as Senior Lieutenant, in the Trinculo sloop, Capts. Spence (Acting), John Lambom, and Alex. Renny, in the Channel – from Oct. 1812 until June, 1814, in the Veteran and Kroh Princessen, prison-ships at Portsmouth, Lieut.-Commanders Stephen Donovan and Thos. Bardwood – and, from 15 June, 1815, until 18 Aug. 1818, as Agent for Transports afloat. He has been serving, since 9 May, 1821, in the Coast Guard at Aldborough, in the Isle of Sheppy, and at Gravesend, Blackwall, Woolwich, and Barking Creek.
Lieut. Simpson married, 28 Oct. 1804, the daughter of Mr. Crispin, Carpenter, R.N., by whom he has issue 8 sons and 4 daughters. One of the former, Benjamin, is a Master, R.N. (1846.) His eldest daughter, Susanna, was married, in Aug. 1833, to G. Wright, Esq., R.N. Agents – Burnett and Holmes.