# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Allen, John (b)

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​ALLEN. (Captain, 1815. f-p., 16; h-p., 31.)
John Allen (b), born 23 Feb. 1789, in London, is second son of the late Thos. Allen, Esq., F.A.S., F.L.S., F.S.A., of Crane Hall, co. Suffolk, by Jane, youngest daughter of the late Wm. Watts, Esq., and sister of the late David Pike Watts, Esq., of Portland Place, and of Capt. John Watts, R.N. His elder brother, the late Lieut. Thos. Allen, an officer in the Army, served throughout the whole of the Peninsular War, and, in the 1st Line Battalion of the German Legion, shared in the glories of Waterloo; his next brother, David, a Captain in the 2nd Madras Cavalry, died Commandant of Nelloor, in 1832; and his youngest brother, James, is a retired Major of the 7th Bengal Cavalry.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 June, 1800, as Midshipman, on board the Osprey 18, commanded by his uncle, Capt. John Watts, and afterwards by Capts. Geo. Irvine, Rich. Dalling Dunn, and Geo. Younghusband, on the Africa and West India stations. While under the latter officer, he commanded the Osprey’s launch at the reduction of Ste. Lucie, 22 Oct. 1803 – was also present at the ensuing surrender of Tobago – and, on 23 March, 1804, took part in a gallant action of an hour and a half, in which, with a loss to herself of one man killed and 16 wounded, the Osprey beat off the French frigate-built privateer L’Egyptienne, of 36 guns and 248 men, 8 of whom were killed and 19 wounded. Removing next, with Capt. Younghusband, to the Heureux 24, Mr. Alien, as Master’s Mate, contributed, during a servitude of nearly two years in that ship, to the capture, on the same station, of, among numerous other vessels, the French privateers Huron, of 20, and Jeune Adéle of 14 guns. He then returned home in the Wolverene 18, Capt. Eras. Aug. Collier, and after an intermediate attachment to the Zealand 64, and Northumberland 74, flag-ships at the Nore, and again in ​the West Indies, of Admirals Bartholomew Sam. Rowley and Sir Alex. Cochrane, was promoted to an Acting-Lieutenancy, 9 April, 1807, in the Prince George 98, Capt. Geo. Losack. On 14 Sept. following, Mr. Allen was confirmed into the Cruizer 18, in which sloop, under the successive commands, in the North Sea and Baltic, of Capts. Pringle, Stoddart, Geo. Chas. Mackenzie, Thos. Wells, and Thos. Rich. Toker, he continued to serve, until appointed Senior Lieutenant, 13 March, 1812, of the Volage 22, Capts. Hon. Donald Hugh Mackay and Sam. Leslie, on the East India station; where, in June and Sept. 1813, he assisted at the capture of the piratical settlement of Sambas, in Borneo, and commanded a division of boats during the operations which led to the restoration of the Sultan of Palamhang. After officiating for a few weeks as Acting-Captain of the Volage, he was promoted to ihe command, 4 Feb. 1814, of the Hecate 18. On 19 June, 1815, ho removed, by order of Rear-Admiral Sir Geo. Burlton, to the Tyne 22; but was obliged from ill health to invalid, 30 April, 1816. On his arrival in England, Capt. Allen found that he had been officially posted in the Volage, by commission dated 20 Sept. -1815; which ship, however, for the reason assigned, he never joined. He accepted the Retirement 1 Oct. 1846.
Capt. Allen married, 24 Sept. 1822, Mary, youngest daughter of Dan. Shirley, Esq., merchant, of Limestreet. Agent – J. Hinxman.