A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Billingsley, John
BILLINGSLEY. (Lieut., 1820. f-p., 29; h-p., 6.)
John Billingsley was born 18 March, 1796.
This officer entered the Navy, 22 May, 1812, as Sec.-cl. Vol., on board the Junon 38, Capt. Jas. Sanders, under whom we find him for some time very actively employed on the coast of North America, particularly at the blockade of Chesapeake and Delaware rivers. On 8 Feb. [errata 1] 1813, he served with a division of boats, under Lieut. Kelly Nazer, at the capture, in gallant style, of the Lottery letter-of-marque, carrying 6 12-pounder carronades and 28 men, an exploit for which, in common with the other officers and men employed, he received the thanks of the Commander-in-Chief. While afterwards attached with Capt. Thos. Forrest to the Sybille 44, Mr. Billingsley cruised, as Midshipman, for the protection of the trade off Madeira, and then proceeded to the latitude of Greenland in quest of the American Commodore Rodgers. After serving for nearly three years and a half in the Vengeur 74, guard-ship at Portsmouth, Capts. Tristram Robt. Ricketts and Thos. Alexander, he joined, in Nov. 1818, the Parthian 10, Capts. Wilson Braddyll Bigland and Whitworth Lloyd, of which vessel, stationed in the West Indies, he was confirmed a Lieutenant 12 June, 1820. The Parthian being paid off in April, 1822, Mr. Billingsley was next in succession appointed, 27 Feb. 1823, 25 Jan. 1825, and 2 April, 1828, to the Eclair 18, Cambridge 82, and Pearl 20, Capts. Wm. Jas. Hope Johnstone, Thos. Jas. Maling, and Geo. Chas. Blake, on the South American and Irish stations. The latter ship was put out of commission 16 April, 1831. Lieut. BilLgsley, since 21 July, 1835, has been employed in the Coast Guard.
He married, 24 June, 1839, Charlotte, eldest daughter of the late Robt. Hicks, Esq., banker, of Ringwood, by whom he has issue one daughter.