A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Wyborn, John
WYBORN. (Retired Captain, 1840. f-p., 19;[1] h-p., 33.)
John Wyborn died in 1846.
This officer entered the Navy, 23 Feb. 1794, on board the Ramillies 74, Capts. Henry Harvey, Sir Rich. Bickerton, Bartholomew Sam. Rowley, and Rich. Grindall; in which ship he fought in Lord Howe’s action and continued employed as Midshipman in the West Indies, North Sea, and Channel until 1799, when he sailed for the Cape of Good Hope in the Lancaster 64, flag-ship of Sir Roger Curtis. In 1800 he suffered great privations and narrowly escaped being devoured by the Caffres on the east coast of Africa, while engaged in conducting a prize from the Mauritius to the Cape. He was nominated, 14 Jan. 1801, Acting-Lieutenant of the Diomede 50, Capts. Hon. Chas. Elphinstone and Sam. Mottley; was confirmed to that ship 19 Nov. following; and was appointed next – 3 June, 1802, and 24 Jan. 1805, as Senior, to the Rattlesnake 18, Capts. John Le Gros and John Cramer (now Coghill), and Sceptre 74, Capt. Joseph Bingham, both in the East Indies – 13 Oct. 1808 (the Sceptre had been paid off in the preceding July), to the Sirius 36, Capt. Sam. Pym, fitting at Chatham – and 9 March, 1809, again to the Sceptre, Capts. Joseph Bingham and Volant Vashon Ballard. For his subsequent conduct in a battery during the siege of Flushing he was earnestly recommended to notice;[2] and for the prompt measures he adopted in destroying the batteries at Anse la Barque, in the island of Guadeloupe, and the assistance he afforded at the destruction of two heavy French frigates lying under their protection, he was promoted to the rank of Commander by a commission dated back to the day of the action, 18 Dec. 1809.[3] After the conquest of Guadeloupe he returned home a passenger in the Cormorant store-ship. In March, 1819, he obtained an appointment in the Ordinary at sheerness; and from 6 April, 1829, until the spring of 1832, he was employed in the Coast Guard. He was placed on the List of Retired Captains 10 Sept. 1840.