A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Strettell, John
STRETTELL. (Lieut., 1841. f-p., 17; h-p., 6.)
John Strettell entered the Navy, 18 Aug. 1824, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Prince Regent 120, Capt. Wm. Henry Webley Parry, flag-ship of Sir Benj. Hallowell at Chatham; and in the following Sept. joined the Cambrian 48, Capt. Gawen Wm. Hamilton; in which frigate, after he had fought as Midshipman at the battle of Navarin, he was wrecked during an attack made upon a nest of pirates at Carabusa 31 Jan. 1828. From Sept. in the latter year until April, 1831, he again served in the Mediterranean in the Revenge 78, Capt. Norbome Thompson, and Rattlesnake 28, Capts. Sir Thos. Sabine Pasley and Chas. Graham. Having passed his examination 14 Feb. 1831, he was next employed in the capacity of Mate – from 21 March until 26 July, 1834, in the President 52 and Vernon 50, both commanded by Capt. John M‘Kerlie on the coast of North America – from 29 Aug. 1834 until 28 March, 1837, again with Capt. M‘Kerlie in the Vernon, on the Mediterranean station – and from 7 July, 1837, until 2 Jan. 1841, in the Wellesley 72, Capt. Thos. Maitland. While in the ship last mentioned, which bore the flags of Sir Fred. Lewis Maitland and Sir Jas. John Gordon Bremer, he assisted in 1838 in quelling an insurrection on the coast of Malabar, participated in 1839 in various operations on the coast of Sinde and in the Persian Gulf, and was present, at the commencement of the war in China, at the capture, in July, l840, of the island of Chusan. Being nominated, 3 Jan. 1841, Acting-Lieutenant of the Herald 26, Capt. Joseph Nias, he contributed to the destruction, 26 Feb. following, of the Bogue forts. He landed also, the next day, at the storming of the enemy’s works close to Whampoa Reach, where 54 pieces of cannon were taken;[1] he served in the boats, on 13 March, at the capture of several rafts and of the last fort protecting the approaches to Canton;[2] and he took a similar part at the ensuing reduction of that city. He was confirmed a Lieutenant 8 June, 1841; and was subsequently appointed – 15 April, 1842, as Additional, two months after he had left the Herald, to the Illustrious 72, flag-ship of Sir Chas. Adam in North America and the West Indies – 31 Dec. 1842, to the Tweed 20, Capt. Hugh. Donald Cameron Douglas, on the same station, whence he returned in Oct. 1843 – 18 May, 1844, for about 12 months, to the Prometheus steam-sloop, Capt. John Hay, on the coast of Africa – and 29 Dec. 1846, as First- Lieutenant (a post he had latterly filled on board the Prometheus), to the Bulldog steam-sloop of 500 horse-power, Capt, Geo. Evan Davis, employed on particular service. He has been qn half-pay since April, 1846. Agents – Messrs. Chard.