A Naval Biographical Dictionary/White, John (b)

2005245A Naval Biographical Dictionary — White, John (b)William Richard O'Byrne

WHITE. (Retired Commander, 1844. f-p., 17;[1] h-p., 30.)

John White (b) entered the Navy, in May, 1800, as A.B., on board the Superb 74, Capt. Rich. Goodwin Keats. In that ship, of which he became Midshipman and Master’s Mate, he bore a warm part la Sir Jas. Saumarez’ action with the Franco-Spanish squadron in the Gut of Gibraltar 12 July, 1801; accompanied Lord Nelson to the West Indies, in 1805, in pursuit of the combined fleets; and fought under the flag of Sir John Thos. Duckworth in the action off St. Domingo 6 Feb. 1806. He continued to serve with the officer last mentioned in the Royal George 100, on the Channel and Mediterranean stations, until Sept. 1806. He then joined the Hibernia 120 and Ville de Paris 110, flag-ships of Lords St. Vincent and Gardner, again in the Channel; where he was nominated, 29 Aug. 1807, Acting-Lieutenant of the Dragon 74, Capt. Matthew Henry Scott. He was officially promoted 12 Sept. following; and was afterwards appointed – 18 Oct. 1807, to the Barracouta 18, Capts. Geo. Harris, Wm. Wells, Rich. Kenah, and Wm. Fitzwilliam Owen, under the two latter of whom we find him, in 1810-11, assisting at the reduction of the Dutch Spice Islands and of the island of Java – 15 March, 1813, and 1 Sept. 1814 (he had invalided from the East Indies in Dec. 1811), to the Heron sloop and Barrosa 36, Capts. Wm. M‘Culloch and John Maxwell, employed on the West India, American, and Home stations – 16 Sept. 1815, for upwards of four months, to the Ganymede 20, Capt. W. M‘Culloch, in the Channel – in 1821, to the command of the Hind Revenue-cruizer – 22 Dec. 1825, to the Astrea 6, Capt. Wm. King, at Falmouth – and 20 July, 1826, to the command, which he retained until 1827, of the Cynthia packet, on the latter station. He accepted his present rank 15 April, 1844.


  1. Deducting the time he commanded the Hind.