A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Smith, John William
SMITH. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 16; h-p., 32.)
John William Smith entered the Navy, 28 Nov. 1799, as A.B., on board the Assistance 50, Capts. Robt. Hall and Rich. Lee; in which ship he continued employed, as Midshipman, on the North American and Home stations, until wrecked between Dunkerque and Gravelines 29 March, 1802. He served next, from Dec. 1803 until Aug. 1808, in the Conqueror 74, Capts. Thos. Louis, Israel Pellew, and Edw. Fellowes, in the Channel and Mediterranean and on the coast of Portugal; from the latter date until Jan. 1813, in the Plantagenet 74, Capts. Wm. Bradley, Thos. Eyres, and Robt. Lloyd, off Lisbon and in the Channel, North Sea, and Baltic; and from July, 1813, until Oct. 1814, in the Sceptre and Albion 74’s, flag-ships of Rear-Admiral Geo. Cockburn on the coast of North America. In the Conqueror he was present, we believe, at the battle of Trafalgar; and in the Sceptre and Albion he was actively employed in the Chesapeake. After acting for about 13 months as Lieutenant in the Gorée 16, Capts. Fras. Truscott and Constantino Rich. Moorsom, and Levant 20, Capt. John Sheridan, he was presented, in Nov. 1815, with a commission bearing date 13 of the preceding March. He has since been on half-pay.