# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Yeats, John Samuel

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​YEATS. (Lieutenant, 1815. f-p., 9; h-p., 32.)
John Samuel Yeats is nephew of the late Robt. Williams, Esq., a Banker, and Director of the Hon.E.I.Co.
This officer entered the Savy, 26 Dec. 1806 (from the Earl St. Vincent Indiaman, then at Bombay), as A.B., on board the Psyche 36, Capts. Wm. Wooldridge and Thos. Groube; and in June, 1807, removed to the Caroline 36, Capts. Henry Hart, Chas. Gordon, and Christopher Cole, in which frigate he continued employed in the East Indies, as Midshipman (a rating he had before attained) and Master’s Mate, until Feb. 1811, when he invalided home on board the Chiffonne 36, Capt. John Wainwright. While in the Caroline he served with three of her boats, carrying in all 37 men, at the cutting-out, from the coast of Java, of a Dutch brig-of-war, the Cheribon, mounting 14 guns and 2 howitzers, with a complement of 75 men. On 11 Dec. 1807 he contributed to the annihilation, at Griessee, of the dockyard and stores, and of all the men-of-war remaining to Holland in the East Indies; he shared next in an engagement with the enemy’s batteries and gun-boats at the entrance of the Bay of Manilla; towards the close of 1809 he accompanied an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, the result of which was the destruction of the strong town of Ras-al-Khyma and of more than 80 vessels; and in Aug. 1810 he united in the celebrated attack upon the island of Banda Neira, and was one of those who there escaladed the walls of the Castle of Belgica. On his arrival home, in Aug. 1811, Mr. Yeats was received on board the Gladiator, Lieut.-Commander Chas. Webb, lying at Portsmouth; and in the following Dec. he removed to the Egmont 74, Capt. Joseph Bingham, employed in succession in the Downs, in the North Sea under the flag of Rear-Admiral Geo. Hope, and among the Western Islands. For the attention he had shown, when with Rear-Admiral Hope, in escorting a Russian squadron to England, that officer would have given him an acting order as Lieutenant, but he had not, unfortunately, served his time. On one occasion, while the Egmont was lying at the Little Nore, having been ordered on dockyard duty, he was returning to the ship in the launch, when he observed a transport with troops on board drifting fast, with her anchor under foot, in among the singles, at a strong flood-tide. He instantly put alongside, carried an anchor out, and hove her off. No sooner, however, had he got on board the Egmont than, by order of the First-Lieutenant, he was placed under arrest upon a charge of having delayed the public service. The Captain was at the time absent on shore; but on his return, and on hearing of that which had occurred, he directed the ship’s company to be called aft on the quarter-deck, sent for Mr. Yeats, and, instead of inflicting punishment, then and there, at the request of the Captain and the military officers belonging to the transport, publicly thanked him for his conduct. On leaving the Egmont Mr. Yeats, who had latterly been in discharge of the duties of Master’s Mate, joined in succession, on the Home station, in Nov. 1813 and May and Aug. 1814, the Cressy 74, Capt. Chas. Dashwood, Puissant 74, Capt. Benj! Wm. Page, and Norge 74, commanded also by ​Capt. Dashwood. He again, toth in the Cressy and Norge, held the rating of Master’s Mate. In the latter ship he accompanied the expedition against New Orleans. During the operations there he was employed on shore with the army; and on the night of 1 Jan. 1815 displayed so much exertion in withdrawing the guns from the advanced position that he attracted the notice of the military Commander-in-Chief, Sir Edw. Pakenham, who promised to recommend him for promotion to the Admiralty. On the night of the 8th he crossed over to the west side of the Mississippi, and assisted at the storming of three batteries. In Feb. 1815 he was present on shore at the taking of Fort Bowyer, Mobile. We may add that, during his career afloat, he was a constant volunteer whenever any land-service was to be performed. In Aug. 1815, on the return of the Norge to England, the fatigue he had undergone had induced a state of such general debility that he was under the necessity of being sent to the hospital at Haslar. He was presented at the same time with a commission bearing date 2 Feb. 1815. He has since been on half-pay.
In the attack above mentioned upon Griessee Lieut. Teats received so severe an injury in the right foot that part of the bone came out. He is married, and has issue eight children. Agent – Frederick Dufaur.