Royal Naval Biography/Smith, John Bernhard
JOHN BERNHARD SMITH, Esq.
[Commander.]
We first find this officer serving as midshipman of the Hercule 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral J. R. Dacres, on the Jamaica station; where, April 8th, 1806, being then in command of that ship’s tender, the Gracieuse, mounting twelve guns, he captured a large Spanish schooner, full of passengers, from San Domingo bound to Porto Rico; and, two days subsequently, drove on shore and destroyed, after a smart action, in which a brother-midshipman and two of his crew were wounded, a French national vessel of five guns, four swivels, and 96 men. He was made a lieutenant on the 8th Sept. 1808; and promoted to his present rank, Dec. 1st, 1812.