Royal Naval Biography/Clements, John
JOHN CLEMENTS, Esq
Rear-Admiral of the Red.
At the commencement of the war with the French republic, this officer commanded the Spitfire sloop. He was promoted to the rank of Post-Captain, Oct. 24, 1794. In the summer of 1802, he obtained the command of the Fortunée, of 40 guns; and on the 8th Sept. following, sailed from the Downs in company with two other frigates and a sloop, with Dutch troops on board, bound to the Texel. On the 10th, owing to the pilot mistaking a buoy, the Fortunée struck on a sand bank, lost her masts and rudder, and was bilged. The next morning she was got into the Texel, where, by the great exertions of her commander, officers, and crew, and the assistance rendered by the other ships, she was put in a state of repair sufficient to enable her to proceed to England, under the escort of another frigate.
In the following year, Captain Clements was appointed to the Sea Fencible service at Leith. He subsequently commanded the Texel, of 64 guns, and Berwick, 74. His advancement to the rank of Rear-Admiral took place, Dec. 4, 1813.