A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Wells, John Palmer
WELLS. (Lieut., 1821. f-p., 18; h-p., 22.)
John Palmer Wells entered the Navy, 23 July, 1807, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Royal George 100, Capt. Rich. Dalling Dunn, whom he followed, as Midshipman, into the San Josef 110, Hibernia 120, Armide 38, and Dublin 74. In those ships he was employed, at first under the flag of Sir John Thos. Duckworth, in the Channel, off Cadiz and Gibraltar, in the Bay of Biscay, and among the Western Islands. While on the books of the San Josef he served with the gun-boats during the operations in the Scheldt in 1809. From the Dublin, which ship had been commanded latterly by Capt. Thos. Elphinstone, he removed, in Sept. 1814, to the Centaur 74, Capts. John Chambers White and Thos. Gordon Caulfeild. On his return in her from a voyage to Brazil and the Cape of Good Hope (he had for some time performed the duties of Second-Master) he joined, in Nov. 1815, the St. George 98, bearing the flag of Sir John Thos. Duckworth at Plymouth; where he continued to serve in the Pique 36, Capts. Hon. Anthony Maitland and Arthur Fanshawe, and Berwick 74 and Impregnable 104, flag-ships of Sir J. T. Duckworth, Lord Exmouth, and Hon. Sir Alex. Cochrane, until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 19 July, 1821. He cruized, while thus attached, in different tenders for the suppression of smuggling, and had command for some time of the Admiral’s tender. From 29 Nov. 1839 until the spring of 1843 he was again stationed at Plymouth in the San Josef, under the flags of Rear-Admirals Fred. Warren and Sir Sam. Pym, Admiral-Superintendents.