A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Sykes, John (a)
SYKES. (Vice-Admiral of the Blue, 1838. f-p., 25; h-p., 39.)
John Sykes is son of the late Jas. Sykes, Esq., Navy Agent, of Arundel Street, Strand; first-cousin of Commanders Thomas and John Sykes, R.N.; and brother-in-law of the late Capt. Rich. Byron, R.N., C.B.
This officer entered the Navy, 25 Dec. 1783, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Resource, Capt. Paul Minchin, stationed at Halifax. In May, 1787, he removed to the Merlin sloop, Capt. Edw. Pakenham, at Newfoundland; in April, 1789 (about two months after he had left the latter vessel), he became Midshipman of the Princess Charlotte yacht, Capt. Sir Hyde Parker; and, in Jan, and July, 1790, he joined the Discovery, Capt. Henry Roberts, and Courageux 74, Capt. Alan Gardner. Being again, in Dec 1790, received on board the Discovery, then commanded by Capt. Geo. Vancouver, he accompanied that officer as Master’s Mate in his voyage round the world (visiting with him the Canary Islands, the Cape of Good Hope, New Holland, New Zealand, the Sandwich Islands, Nootka Sound, and various parts of the north-west coast of America), and was in a boat with the late Rear-Admiral Spelman Swaine when, by rendering timely assistance, he saved his Captain and some others from being murdered by a party of Indians. On his return to England Mr. Sykes was made Lieutenant, 6 Nov. 1795, into the Swallow sloop, Capt. Geo. Fowke; and he was next appointed – 17 Dec. 1795, to the Goliath 74, Capt. Sir Chas. Henry Knowles – and 16 Feb. 1796, 25 May, 1797, and 7 Aug. 1798, to the St. Albans 64, Resolution 74, and Asia 64, bearing each the flag of Admiral Vandeput at Halifax. In the ship last mentioned he was First-Lieutenant. He was promoted to the rank of Commander 18 June, 1800; was appointed in that capacity, 5 May, 1803, and 8 March, 1805, to the Hecla bomb and Nautilus sloop, on the Home and Mediterranean stations; and, attaining Post rank 22 Jan. 1806, was subsequently, from 12 March, 1808, until 8 March, 1809, and from II May in the latter year until 31 Aug. 1810, employed in the Diomede 50 and Adamant 50, flagships of Sir Edm. Nagle on the coast of France and at Leith. In the Hecla he twice, in July and Aug. 1804, assisted at the bombardment of Havre-de- Grace. On each occasion he was very warmly engaged with the enemy, and displayed a degree ot meritorious conduct that gained him the admiration of Capt. Robt. Dudley Oliver, the senior officer present.[1] In 1809 he commanded the Adamant as a private ship in the attack upon Flushing. His last appointments were, 27 May, 1825, and 1 May, 1836, to the Ocean 80 and Royal Adelaide 104, flag-ships of Lord Amelius Beauclerk in the Tagus and at Plymouth. He remained in the former until 1827, and in the latter until Aug. 1837. He attained Flag-rank 28 June, 1838; and was made a Vice-Admiral 1 June, 1848.
Vice-Admiral Sykes is a Deputy-Lieutenant for co. Surrey. He married, in 1811, a daughter of Edw. Earl, Esq., Chairman of the Board of Customs in Scotland. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1804, pp. 893, 938.