A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Conjuit, John

1662786A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Conjuit, JohnWilliam Richard O'Byrne

CONJUIT. (Lieut., 1821. f-p., 37; h-p., 1.)

John Conjuit, born 2 Nov. 1794, is descended, we believe, from John Conjuit, Esq., Master of the Mint at the commencement of the last century, whose memory is perpetuated by a monument in Westminster Abbey.

This officer entered the Navy, 6 Nov. 1809, as Midshipman, on board the Eagle 74, Capt. Chas. Rowley; while under whose command he subsequently assisted at the defence of Cadiz, and at the reduction of Fiumé, Ravenna, Trieste, and other places on the coasts of Italy, Istria, and Dalmatia. He was also frequently employed in batteries on shore; took part in many cutting-out expeditions; boarded and carried, on one occasion, with the Eagle’s cutter and only seven men under his orders, and in face of a heavy fire from a brass gun, swivels, and musketry, an enemy’s gun-boat, Le Courier with a crew of 25 men, commanded by a Lieutenant of the French navy; and was altogether two-and-twenty times personally engaged with the foe. During the six years immediately following the peace Mr. Conjuit, who passed his examination 23 Nov. 1815, further served, chiefly in the West Indies, on board the Liffey 50, Capt. John Hancock, Warrior 74, Rear-Admiral John Erskine Douglas, North Star 28, Capt. Thos. Coe, Royalist 18, Capt. Houston Stewart, Salisbury 50, Capt. John Mackellar, Briseis 10, Capt. Geo. Domett (under whom, while acting as Lieutenant, he was wrecked, 5 Nov. 1816, on a desolate part of the island of Cuba, and remained in consequence exposed for more than two months to the greatest hardships, being nearly destitute the whole time of provisions and clothing), Tigris 36, Capt. Robt. Henderson, Rochfort 80, flag-ship successively (in the Mediterranean) of Sir Thos. Fremantle and Sir Graham Moore, and Sybille 38, Capt. Joshua Ricketts Rowley. On 9 Oct. 1821, he was promoted to a Lieutenancy in the Tribune 36, Capt. Nesbit Josiah Willougnby; and being next appointed, 15 April, 1824, to the Coast Blockade, continued in that service, as a Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Ramillies and Hyperion, Capts. Wm. M‘Culloch and Wm. Jas. Mingaye, until the receipt of his present appointment to the Coast Guard 16 March, 1831.

In the execution of his night duties Lieut. Conjuit has had the misfortune to be severely ruptured, and injured in the spine. He married, 24 Aug. 1822, Charlotte, eldest daughter of Mr. Wm. Muddoll, of H.M. Dockyard, Chatham.