A Naval Biographical Dictionary/McKillop, John
M‘KILLOP. (Lieut., 1812. f-p., 9; h-p., 34.)
John M‘Killop, born in March, 1788, at Glenarm, co. Antrim, is son of the late David M‘Killop, Esq., 50 years a Lieutenant in the R.N., and brother of the late Rich. M‘Killop, who held the same rank for a period of 18 years.
This officer entered the Navy, 10 Oct. 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Loire 46, Capt. Fred. Lewis Maitland, with whom he continued almost uninterruptedly to serve, in the same ship, and in the Volontaire 38 and Emerald 36, until Sept. 1810. He was under the fire, during that period, of the batteries in Muros Bay, when they were gallantly stormed and carried,,and the privateers Confiance and Bélier taken, by the boats under the late Sir Jas. Lucas Yeo, 4 June, 1805; assisted, on 25 of the same month, in capturing Le Vaillant of 30 guns; was in company, 24 Dec. following, with L’Egyptienne frigate, at the capture, after an obstinate resistance, of La Libre of 40 guns; conveyed, in July, 1806, to Sir Rich. Keats, off L’Orient, intelligence which led to the capture of Le Rhin of 44 guns; contributed further, in the course of 1807, to the capture of many other vessels and the blockade of Rochefort; witnessed, on the night of 13 March, 1808, the destruction, in Vivero harbour, in face of a desperate opposition, of a large French schooner, L’Apropos of 8 guns and 70 men; and was present, as Midshipman, in April, 1809, at the destruction of the French shipping in Basque Roads. Becoming Master’s Mate, in Sept. 1810, of the Astraea of 42 guns and 271 men, Capt. Chas. Marsh Schomberg, Sir. M‘Killop proceeded to the Cape of Good Hope; and on 20 May, 1811, when in company, off Madagascar, with the s[c] and Galatea frigates, similar in force to the Astraea, and 18-gun brig Racehorse, he assisted – after a long and warmly contested action with the French 40-gun frigates Renommée, Clorinde, and Néréide, and a loss to the Astraea of 2 killed and 16 wounded – at the capture of the Renommée, and, on 25 of the same month, of the Néréide and the settlement of Tamatave. As a reward for his conduct on the occasion he was nominated, 30 June following, Acting-Lieutenant of the Astraea. He was confirmed to her 8 May, 1812, but went on half-pay on her return, under Capt. John Eveleigh, to England in Sept. 1813, and has not been since afloat.
He married Anne, eldest daughter of the late Thos. Dickey, Esq., of Ballymena, co. Antrim, by whom he has issue five children.