Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Downes, John (naval officer)

DOWNES, John, naval officer, b. in Canton, Mass., in 1786; d. in Charleston, S. C, 11 Aug., 1855. He entered the navy as a midshipman in June, 1802; was in the frigate “New York” during the war with Tripoli, and distinguished himself in a boat attack upon Tripolitan feluccas. In March, 1807, he was made a lieutenant, and in the war of 1812 he served as executive officer of the frigate “Essex,” Capt. Porter, during her cruise in the Pacific. Among her numerous prizes was the whale-ship “Georgiana,” which Capt. Porter fitted as a cruiser, with sixteen guns, named the “Essex Junior,” and placed under the command of Lieut. Downes, who retained this place until the capture of the “Essex” and the conversion of the “Essex Junior” into a cartel, 28 March, 1814. He was promoted to the rank of master commandant in 1813, and two years later commanded the brig “Epervier” in the squadron employed against Algiers under Decatur, and captured, 17 June, 1815, the Algerine frigate “Nashouda.” Two days afterward the “Epervier” and three of the smaller vessels of the squadron captured the Algerine brig of war “Estido,” twenty-two guns and 180 men, off Cape Palos. After the conclusion of peace with Algiers, Decatur transferred Downes to his own ship, the “Guerrière.” He became captain in March, 1817, and from 1819 till 1821 commanded the frigate “Macedonia” in the Pacific. In 1828-'9 he commanded the “Java” in the Mediterranean, and from 1833 to 1834 the squadron in the Pacific. On his way to his station he attacked (6 Feb., 1832) and nearly destroyed Quallah Batoo, on the coast of Sumatra, where an outrage had been committed on an American vessel. His sea service terminated with his cruise. From 1837 till 1842, and from 1850 till 1852, he commanded the navy-yard at Boston.—His son. John A., naval officer, b. in Massachusetts, 25 Aug., 1822; d. in New Orleans, 20 Sept., 1865, entered the navy on 4 Sept., 1837; became passed midshipman in 1843, lieutenant in 1851, and a commander in 1862. During the civil war he commanded the iron-clad “Nahant” at the bombardment of Fort McAlister, 3 March, 1863, and in the first attack upon Fort Sumter, 7 April, 1863. In the report of Rear-Admiral Dupont he is mentioned as one of those “who did everything that the utmost gallantry and skill could accomplish in the management of their untried vessels.” He aided in the capture of the Confederate iron-clad “Atlanta.” He was on special duty at Boston a short time, and was then given command of the Gulf squadron, in which service he died.