A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Sanders, John

1922089A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Sanders, JohnWilliam Richard O'Byrne

SANDERS. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 21; h-p., 21.)

John Sanders had a brother who, after having been for five years a Midshipman in the Navy, obtained, in 1812, an Ensigncy in the Royal African corps, and for his gallantry while a passenger in the Amelia 38, in a desperate action fought between that ship and the French frigate Aréthuse off the Isles de Los, 7 Feb. 1813, was promoted by the Duke of York to the rank of Lieutenant. He died at the Cape of Good Hope in 1830.

This officer entered the Navy, 18 Jan. 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Agincourt 64, Capts. Thos. Briggs, Henry Hill, Robt. Henderson, and Wm. Kent, in which ship (with the exception of a few days passed at the commencement of 1808 at Chatham in the Pompée 74, Capt. Geo. Hope) he continued employed on the Home and Lisbon stations until transferred, in Feb. 1812, to the Ariel 16, Capt. Daniel Ross. He commanded a flat-bottomed boat, during that period, in the expedition to the Walcheren, as also in the river Tagus, and was frequently engaged in the landing and embarking of troops. After being for two years in the Ariel in the Baltic, he was again, in Feb. 1814, placed under the orders of Capt. Henderson in the Tigris 36, on the Irish station. In Aug. 1815 he was presented with a commission bearing date 6 of the preceding April; and he was afterwards, from 31 May, 1824, until 17 Dec. 1834, employed as an Agent afloat in the Admiral Berkeley, Southwark, Parmelia, Maitland, and Marquis of Huntley hired transports. On 11 Nov. 1831 we find him, in the Parmelia, superintending the debarkation of a military and naval force (consisting of 451 officers and men, 2 of whom were killed and 47 wounded) in a successful attack on the natives at Barra Point, in the river Gambia – a service for which he was strongly recommended for promotion toSir Jas. Graham, then First Lord of the Admiralty, by Rear-Admiral Fred. Warren, the Commander-in-Chief, and the Governors of Sierra Leone and the Gambia.

In 1823 Lieut. Sanders, at that time a resident on half-pay at Demerara, displayed great activity as a Captain in the “Marine Battalion” during the insurrection among the negroes. He has been Superintendent, since 26 June, 1837, of the Dreadnought, seamen’s hospital-ship at Greenwich.