A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Dewar, John
DEWAR. (Lieut., 1812. h-p., 15; h-p., 33.)
John Dewar, born 24 May, 1789, is son of the late Alex. J. Dewar, Esq., Purser R.N., who thrice, we believe, circumnavigated the globe with the immortal Cook, and eventually died in active service-; and grandson of Rollo Quin, Esq., who was blown up in 1757, while serving as First, or Flag-Lieutenant, to Admiral Broderick, in the St. George 90. Two of his uncles were also killed in action.
This officer entered the Navy, 3 Oct. 1799, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Terpsichore 32, Capt. Wm. Hail Gage, stationed in the North Sea, where, in company with the Nemesis 28, Capt. Thos. Baker, he witnessed the capture, after a spirited action of 25 minutes, of the Danish frigate Freija of 36 guns, 25 July, 1800. He subsequently,’ in the same ship, joined in a combat with the Boulogne flotilla; and then removing to the Beaver 10, Capt. C. B. Jones, served under that officer, on the Irish station, until paid off in Sept. 1802. Between 4 Aug. 1803, and 30 June, 1809, Mr. Dewar next officiated as Midshipman, and latterly as Master’s Mate, of the Thunderer 74, Capt. Wm. Bedford, and of the Hibernia, Prince of Wales, Ville de Paris, and Caledonia, flag-ships of Admirals Lord Gardner, Edw. Thornbrough, Sir Jas. Saumarez, and Lqrd Gambier; with the last of whom he served as Flag-Midshipman at the bombardment of Copenhagen in Sept. 1807, and at the destruction of the French shipping in Basque Roads in Appl, 1809. He afterwards, on being lent to the Sceptre 74, Capt. Joseph Bingham, actively co-operated in the siege of Flushing; and, on the return of the expedition from that place, proceeded to the West Indies, where, from the Polyphemus 64, flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Bartholomew Sam. Rowley, he was promoted, 22 Aug. 1810, to an Acting-Lieutenancy in the Reindeer 18, Capt. Peter John Douglas, in which vessel he appears on one occasion to have been slightly wounded. In Dec. 1811, Mr. Dewar rejoined Capt. Bedford, as Master’s Mate, in the Royal Sovereign 100, lying at Hamoaze, but was officially promoted 21 March following, and appointed First of the Electra 18, Capt. Wm. Gregory. With the boats of that sloop under his orders, we subsequently find him effecting, at night, the capture of four armed schooners on the Newfoundland station. Being next appointed, in a similar capacity, 2 July, 1813, to the Brisk 18, Capts. Eyles Mounsher and Henry Higman, he proceeded to the coast of Africa, and there, independently of the capture of four other slave-vessels, commanded the boats at the cutting out, 8 Dec. 1814, of L’Union, a noted piratical slave-schooner, pierced for 14 guns, but mounting only 6. This very gallant exploit was achieved at noon-day, at a distance of 15 miles from the Brisk, then becalmed, and in face of a most determined resistance from a crew in every way prepared for the attack, who were, however, eventually repulsed and driven overboard. Lieut. Dewar, whose stirring conduct on this occasion was allowed to pass unrewarded, was paid off 31 Aug. 1815. Since that period, although his sufferings in the service of his country had been great, he has been unable to procure employment.
He married in 1821; and has issue eight children, three of whom are in the Navy.