Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/West, John (1774-1862)
WEST, Sir JOHN (1774–1862), admiral of the fleet, born in 1774, was the son of Lieutenant-colonel Temple West of the grenadier guards; grandson of Vice-admiral Temple West [q. v.], and, through his grandmother, great-grandson of Admiral Sir John Balchen [q. v.] His father, Colonel West, was the second cousin of William Pitt the younger. His grandfather's sister was the first wife of Alexander Hood, viscount Bridport [q. v.] He entered the navy in June 1788 on board the Pomona, with Captain (Sir) William Domett [q. v.], himself a follower of Alexander Hood. He was afterwards in the Salisbury, flagship of Vice-admiral Mark Milbanke, and in the London, bearing the flag of Alexander Hood (afterwards Viscount Bridport). He was promoted to be lieutenant on 27 July 1793, and in the following year was a lieutenant of the Royal George on 1 June, and in 1795 on 23 June. On 7 Sept. 1795 he was made commander; in December was appointed to the Diligence sloop, in the West Indies, and on 15 Nov. 1796 was posted to the 30-gun frigate Tourterelle. From 1807 to 1809 he commanded the Excellent in the Mediterranean, and from 1809 to 1814 the Sultan on the Mediterranean, home, and West Indies stations. He became a rear-admiral on 12 Aug. 1819; vice-admiral on 22 July 1830; admiral on 23 Nov. 1841. He was nominated a K.C.B. on 4 July 1840. From April 1845 to April 1848 he was commander-in-chief at Devonport, with his flag in the Queen. He was made admiral of the fleet on 25 June 1858, and a G.C.B. on 18 May 1860. He died, at his residence in Eaton Square, on 18 April 1862. He married, in May 1817, Harriett, daughter of John Adams of Northamptonshire, and left issue three sons and two daughters.
[O'Byrne's Nav. Biogr. Dict.; Gent. Mag. 1862, i. 644; Navy Lists.]