A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Towne, John
TOWNE. (Lieut., 1812. f-p., 9; h-p., 35.)
John Towne was born 5 Feb. 1786.
This officer (he had previously been in the Hon.E.I.Co.’s service) was impressed into the Navy, 21 Aug. 1803, while on his passage home from the West Indies in a merchantman, and placed as A. B. on board the Leda 38, Capt. Robt. Honyman; in which frigate and, as Midshipman, in the Harpy 18, Capt. Edm. Heywood, he was for 17 months in constant action with the enemy’s flotilla and batteries at Boulogne; where he assisted at the capture and destruction of several vessels and was present in the catamaran and stone-ship expeditions. He was afterwards employed in the West Indies – from 28 Jan. 1805 until 27 Jan. 1807, as Midshipman, in the Jason 32, Capts. Wm. Burgundy Champain and Thos. John Cochrane-from 28 Jan. 1807 until 12 June, 1809, as Acting-Master, in the Dominica 14 and Asp 16, Capts. Wm. Dean and Robt. Foulis Preston – from 13 June, 1809, until 16 July, 1810, as Master’s Mate, Midshipman, and Master’s Mate, in the Intrepid 64, Capt. Christopher John Williams Nesham, and Pompée 74 and Neptune 98, flag-ships of Sir Alex. Cochrane – from 16 July until Sept. 1810, as Acting-Lieutenant, in the Pelorus 18, Capt. Alex. Kennedy – next, as a Supernumerary Master’s Mate, in the Statira 38, bearing the flag of Sir A. Cochrane – from 12 Dec. 1810 until 15 Jan. 1812, in command, as Master’s Mate, of the Ram schooner, tender to the Dragon 74, flag-ship of Sir Fras. Laforey – and from 17 Sept. 1812 (the date of his commission) until he invalided, 25 April, 1813, in the Demerara 16, Capt. Smith. In the Jason and her boats Mr. Towne assisted at the capture of many of the enemy’s vessels, including La Naïade of 16 guns, 4 swivels, and 170 men, taken after a chase of nine hours and a partial firing of 15 minutes. He held command for some time of a tender; and was frequently sent away in charge of prizes. On one occasion he landed and aided in destroying the Signal stations on the coast of Cumana. As Acting- Master of the Dominica he again saw much detached service, and was present, 3 Feb. 1808, in an action with the French privateer Victor, in which the British had 3 men killed and 6 wounded. He was in company, in the Asp, with the Supérieure 14, when those vessels fell in with the French 40-gun frigate La Junon previously to her capture. In May, 1809, having landed, he contributed to the destruction of a battery at Port Louis, Guadeloupe, and with his own hands blew up the magazine; and in the course of the same month he commanded a boat, in conjunction with those of the Heureux, in an attempt made in open day to bring out two vessels moored close under other of the enemy’s batteries, and defended by a heavy fire of grape and musketry. On 1 June ensuing we find him co-operating also in charge of a boat, with a force sent from the Forester sloop and Express brig, to storm a battery at Grande Terre, Guadeloupe, and take possession of the town. He was, on this occasion again, personally intrusted with the duty of firing a train laid for the purpose of blowing up the enemy’s magazine and storehouse. While attached to the Pompée he witnessed, 18 Dec. 1809, the destruction of the French 40-gun frigates Loire and Seine, under several strong batteries in L’Ance la Barque, Guadeloupe, and served on shore with a division of seamen at the reduction of the latter island and its dependencies. During his command of the Ram Mr. Towne was arduously employed in keeping up a communication between the islands, carrying despatches, fee. Since he left the Demerara he has been on half-pay.
A more elaborate account than has been above given of the exploits performed by Lieut. Towne, and a narrative of many adventures and incidents, which it would be foreign to our purpose to introduce, may be found in a series of animated articles published in the ‘United Service Journal’ for 1830, under the title of ‘Service Afloat.’ He is married, and has issue two children.