of Spain and Portugal, in the defence of Cadiz, in the Baltic, and on the French coast. His last appointment was, Nov. 20, 1815, to the Ramillies, of 74 guns, stationed at Plymouth, where he remained during the customary period of three years. His promotion to the rank of Rear-Admiral took place Aug. 12, 1819.
We are not acquainted with the particulars of this officer’s marriage, but we know that his only son, Thomas, is in holy orders.
Residence.– Ramsgate.
JOHN CLARKE SEARLE, Esq
Rear-Admiral of the White.
This officer entered the naval service in 1774; and early in the following year received a wound in the hand in an action with the Americans. During the Spanish and Russian aimaments, he commanded, as a Lieutenant, the Liberty, of 16 guns; and whilst in that vessel, at the commencement of the war with revolutionary France, drew the attention of the French frigate San Culotte from several merchantmen, then under his convoy, bound to Guernsey, and had nearly succeeded in decoying the enemy on shore on the Casket rocks, after having experienced a very heavy fire from her for more than an hour and a half, during which the Liberty sustained considerable damage in her hull, sails, and rigging. About the year 1795, he was advanced to the rank of Commander in the Pelican sloop of war, and in that vessel captured several of the enemy’s privateers. He was also present at the reduction of St. Lucia, St. Vincents, and Grenada, in the spring of 1796[1]. His post commission bears date July 13th following.
Previous to his quitting the Pelican, Captain Searle appears to have fought a very gallant action with the Médée French frigate, and notwithstanding the absence of 23 of his crew, succeeded in beating her off. The following account of an affair which reflects so much credit on all those concerned therein, we extract from a work recently published, under the title of James’s Naval History.
