# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Lechmere, John

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​LECHMERE. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 11; h-p., 31.)
John Lechmere, born 9 Jan. 1793, is eldest surviving son of the late Vice-Admiral Wm. Lechmere, of Steeple Aston, co. Wilts, by Elizabeth Dashwood, youngest daughter of Sir John Dashwood King, Bart., of West Wycombe, co. Bucks; younger brother of Commander Chas. Lechmere, R.N. (1815), who died on board H.M.S. Leven 9 Nov. 1822; brother-in-law of the present Lord de Saumarez; and a distant cousin of the late Lieut. Edm. Lechmere, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, in April, 1805, as Midshipman, on board the Thunderer 74, ​commanded by his father; after serving in which ship in Sir Robt. Calder’s action he was lent, in time to participate in the battle of Trafalgar, to the Orion 74, Capt. Edw. Codrington. In Sept. 1806, having during the last few months been again employed with Capt. Lechmere in the Prince 98, and with Capt. Rich. Dalling Dunn in the Acasta 40, he joined the Royal George 100, flag-ship of Sir John Thos. Duckworth, with whom, in Feb. 1807, he passed the Dardanells. In May, 1809, he followed the same Admiral into the San Josef 110; and between Oct. in that year and Dec. 1811 he served, we find, on the Cape of Good Hope, Lisbon, and Baltic stations, in the Inconstant 36, Capt. Edw. Stirling Dickson, Formidable 98, Capt. Jas. Nicoll Morris, and Cressy 74, Capt. Chas. Dudley Pater. On 24 of the month last mentioned Mr. Lechmere was on board the Grasshopper 18, Capt. Henry Fanshawe, when that vessel, to avoid being lost, as was her consort the Hero 74, surrendered to the Dutch fleet in the Texel. He accordingly remained a prisoner until the peace of 1814, when he returned to England, and, on 3 Feb. 1815, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. During the Hundred Days’ War we find him employed on board the Astraea 36, Capt. Edw. Kittoe, in which frigate he escorted to La Vendée the celebrated Larochejaquelin, with whom, owing to his knowledge of the French language, h« was afterwards made the constant medium of communication. Three days before his death that personage did Mr. Lechmere the honour of extracting from him a musket-ball with his own hands; and he actually, in the presence of General Roget and other of his officers, promised him the Cross of St. Louis – an intention his premature death unfortunately prevented him from realizing. On one occasion, relying upon an assurance conveyed to him from his Admiral, to the effect that the latter would do all in his power towards procuring him his promotion, Mr. Lechmere, although warned from the same source that in so doing he exposed himself to the probability of being hanged by the Republicans as a spy, volunteered to land for the purpose of ascertaining the correctness of a report that the Royalist party had been surprised and entirely cut off. He accordingly went on shore, and, having satisfied himself that such was not the fact, returned on board with the pleasing intelligence. He still, however, remains a Lieutenant. His last appointment was, 19 Jan. 1816, to the Dee 24, Capt. Sam. Chambers, with whom he served on jthe Halifax station until Aug. 1817, when he invalided.
Lieut. Lechmere is a Deputy-Lieutenant for co. Oxford. He married, 3 March, 1823, Anna Maria, youngest daughter of the late Hon. Andrew Foley, M.P., of Newport House, co. Hereford, and Hately Court, Oxon, and cousin of the present Lord Foley. Agent – J. Hinxman.