JOHN HARPER, Esq.
A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath, and Knight of the Imperial Austrian Order of Leopold.
[Post-Captain of 1814.]
This officer was born at Chatham, in Kent, Sept. 18, 1772; and he appears to have entered the navy, as midshipman, on board the Britannia, a first-rate, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral the Hon. Samuel Barrington, early in 1782. His father, who was an officer of the same ship, received a mortal wound, in the partial action between Lord Howe’s fleet and the combined forces of France and Spain, off Cape Spartel, Oct. 20, 1782[1]. Upon the death of that gentleman being announced to the Vice-Admiral, he immediately answered,
“I will take the youngster under my protection – if he makes only half as good a man as his parent, he will be an honour to the British navy.”
During the long period of peace that succeeded the struggle between Great Britain and her revolted colonies, Mr. Harper’s patron kept him constantly afloat, in the Triumph 74, Barfleur 98, and Pomona 28; the latter ship commanded by Captain Henry Savage, and successively employed on the African and Channel stations. At the commencement of the French revolutionary war, he was strongly recommended by the same distinguished officer to Sir John Jervis, with whom he sailed for the West Indies, in the Boyne 98, Nov. 26, 1793. Mr. Harper commanded a flat-bottomed boat, employed in landing the British troops at Martinique, and was promoted into the Avenger sloop for his conduct on that occasion. His first commission as lieutenant bears date Feb. 21, 1794.
During the siege of St. Lucia, Mr. Harper was one night ordered to row guard, in a 6-oared boat, off the Carenage, which harbour he entered, and, taking advantage of a heavy shower of rain, boarded and captured a French schooner privateer, mounting ten guns, fully manned, and perfectly ready
