A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Stephen, John
STEPHEN. (Commander, 1846. f-p., 26; h-p., 26.)
John Stephen entered the Navy, 21 Dec. 1805, as Ordinary, on board the Starling 12, Lieut.-Commander Chas. Fred. Napier, stationed in the North Sea; where he became Midshipman, in Nov. 1807, of the Roebuck 44, flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Billy Douglas, and, in Oct. 1808, Master’s Mate of the Skylark 16, Capts. Henry Evelyn Pitfield Sturt and Jas. Boxer. From 27 Nov. in the latter year until 31 Dec. 1811 (during part of which period he was employed with the flotilla in the defence of Messina) he served on the Halifax and Mediterranean stations in the Termagant 18, Capts. H. E. P. Sturt, Geo. Wm. Hughes D’Aeth, Rich. Buck, Rich. Moorman, Fred. Chas. Squire, and Wm. Hamilton. He then joined the Repulse 74, Capt. Rich. Hussey Moubray, also on the Mediterranean station; and in June and Sept. 1814 he was received on board the Salvador del Mundo, flagship of Sir John Thos. Duckworth at Plymouth, and Basilisk 6, commanded in the Channel by Lieut. Abraham Pike. In Aug. 1815 he took up a commission bearing date 23 of the preceding Feb.; and he was subsequently appointed – 31 May, 1823, and (after 12 months of half-pay) 4 March, 1830, to the Ramillies and Talavera 74’s, Coast Blockade ships, both commanded by Capt. Hugh Pigot – 26 April, 1831, to the Coast Guard, in which service he continued until Jan. 1834 – 6 May, 1839, to the Ocean 80, guard-ship at Sheerness, Capts. Sir John Hill and Peter Fisher – and, 26 Jan. 1844, to the command, 10 months after he had left the Ocean, of the Raven cutter, also stationed at Sheerness. He was superseded from the latter vessel on the occasion of his promotion to the rank of Commander 9 Nov. 1846; and he is now on half-pay.
For his exertions, 1 Nov. 1823, in saving the crew and the remains of the Lady Popham, wrecked on Margate Sands, Commander Stephen received the thanks of the Committee at Lloyd’s, and a piece of plate valued at 202. His only daughter is the wife of Lieut. Thos. Woods, R.N.