# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Fletcher, John Venour

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​FLETCHER. (Captain, 1841. f-p., 26; h-p., 7.)
John Venour Fletcher was born 14 Nov. 1801, at Chesterfield.
This officer entered the Navy, 13 Feb. 1814, as Fst-cl. Vol., on board the President 38, Capts. Fras. Mason and Arch. Duff; and was afterwards employed, until July, 1821, part of the time as Midshipman, in the Rhin 38, Capt. Chas. Malcolm, Scamander and Forth, both commanded by Capt. Sir John Louis, and Queen Charlotte 100, flag-ship of Sir Jas. Hawkins Whitshed, chiefly on the Halifax ​and Home stations. While in the Rhin, Mr. Fletcher assisted at the capture of two men-of-war and 14 merchant-vessels at Corrijou, on the coast of Bretagne, 18 July, 1815. He further served for three years and a half as Mate and Acting-Lieutenant of the Aurora 44, commanded in South America by Capt. Henry Prescott; and he next, until the receipt of his first commission, bearing date 8 Sept. 1827, again officiated in the two last-mentioned capacities on board the Victory 104, flag-ship of Sir Geo. Martin, Galatea 42, Capt. Sir Chas. Sullivan, Dartmouth 42, Capt. Henry Hundas, Nimble 5, Lieut.-Commander Edw. Holland, and Scylla 18, Capt. Wm. Hobson, at Portsmouth and in the West Indies. His ensuing appointments were, on the latter and on the Home and East India stations – 24 Nov. 1827, to the Fairy 10, Capts. Geo. Wm. Conway Courtenay, Dennis O’Brien, and Fras. Blair – 18 July, 1829, to the Druid 46, Capt. Williams Sandom, which ship he left on 5 of the following Oct. – 16 May, 1831, to the Prince Regent 120, as Flag-Lieutenant to Rear-Admlral Wm. Parker – 4 July, 1831, to the Curaçoa 26, Capt. David Dunn – 21 Aug. 1835, to the Jupiter 38, Capt. Hon. Fred. Wm. Grey – and 27 Sept. 1836, as First, to the Conway 28, Capt. Chas. Kamsay Drinkwater Bethune. Shortly after his assumption of the rank of Commander, which took place 28 June, 1838, he obtained the Acting-Second-Captaincy, 7 July following, of the Wellesley 74, Capt. Thos. Maitland, bearing for some time the broad pendant of Commodore Sir Gordon Bremer, to which ship he was officially appointed 29 April, 1839. Joining afterwards in the hostilities against China, he there commenced his services by conveying, in company with Lord Jocelyn, the summons of surrender to the Commander-in-Chief of Chnsan which preceded the capture of the island by the British; and on that occasion, 5 July, 1840, he displayed much zeal and alacrity. He was next praised in the highest manner for his zealous exertions at the capture of Tycocktow and Chuenpee, and was also recommended for his conduct in superintending the landing of the forces at the capture of North Wantong in Jan. and Feb. 1841. During the operations of Aug. against Amoy, Capt. Fletcher (who had witnessed the fall of Canton) was for two days detached in the Nemesis steamer, in which vessel he completely disabled, with a zeal very commendable, the guns on every battery on the north-east and south-west sides of the Bay, and the fortified island at the entrance; and when the town was assaulted by the troops he afforded them the able and prompt co-operation of himself and a party of seamen who had landed under his command. His ardour and activity appear to have further contributed to the capture of Chinghae. He went on half-pay 24 Oct. 1841, having been promoted to the rank he now holds on 8 of the previous June; and has not since been employed. Agents – Case and Loudonsack.
* ↑ Vide Gaz. 1840, pp. 2990, 2991.
* ↑ Vide Gaz. 1841, pp. 1162, 1498.
* ↑ Vide Gaz. 1842, pp. 83, 382.
* ↑ Vide Gaz. 1842, p. 396.