# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/McHardy, John Bunch Bonnemaison

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​M‘HARDY. (Captain, 1840. f-p., 22; h-p., 13.)
John Bunch Bonnemaison M‘Hardy was born 3 Dec. 1801.
This officer entered the Navy, 25 May, 1812, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Tartarus 32, Capt. John Pasco, in which frigate, and in, the Rota 38, also commanded by Capt. Pasco, he served as Midshipman on the American, Irish, North Sea, and Lisbon stations until paid off in Aug. 1815. Proceeding next to the West Indies in a merchant-vessel at his own expense, he there, in Nov. 1816, succeeded in obtaining a vacancy in the Bermuda 10, Capt. John Pakenham, under whom however he was almost immediately wrecked near Tarapico Bar. He then successively joined the Esk 20, Capt. Geo. Gustavus Lennock, and Landrail and Kangaroo surveying-vessels, Master-Commander Anthony De Mayne, all too on the West India station, where he remained until the early part of 1821, at which period he returned home for the purpose of passing his examination. As soon as that ordeal had been gone through he was ordered a passage back in the Pyramus 42, Capt. Fras. Newcombe, and on his arrival was received, first on board the Nautilus 18, Capt. Isham Fleming Chapman, and next on board the Sybille 46, flag-ship of Sir Chas. Rowley. On 23 Feb. 1823 we find him nominated Second in command, with the rating of Master’s Mate, of the Lion schooner, of 1 gun, Lieut.-Commander Wm. Hobson, in order to assist in the suppression of piracy on the coast of Cuba, where, it appears, he participated in the capture of three schooners, and came into contact with a very superior force on shore. Towards the close of the same year, after having been for a time attached to the Gloucester 74, Commodore Sir Edw. W. C. R. Owen, and been allowed to reside for the benefit of his health in America, he joined the Icarus 10, Capt. John Geo. Graham. Asa reward for his services both in that sloop and in her boats, particularly in an affair off the Isle of Pines, Mr. M‘Hardy, in Feb. 1824, was ordered by his Captain to act in the room of Lieut. Laton, who, with 4 seamen, had been recently murdered by the pirates. He continued to officiate as Acting-Lieutenant of the Icarus until 19 Aug. 1824; and he was then, as an acknowledgment for his exertions on the above occasion, as well as at the subsequent capture of two schooners, two feluccas, and four row-boats, confirmed by the Admiralty. Previously however to the receipt of his commission he took command of the boats, carrying 34 men, under Lieut. Chas. Croker, and contributed, on 20 of the month last mentioned, to the capture, off the Havana, of, among other vessels, the notorious piratical schooner Diableto, mounting 6 guns, with a complement of 55 men – an exploit for which, as we should have recorded in our memoir of the now Commander Croker, those who achieved it received the official approbation of the Board. Being placed on half-pay in consequence of his promotion, Lieut. M‘Hardy, although the Commodore had recommended his being further employed in the West Indies, did not succeed in obtaining an appointment until Oct. 1827, on 18 of which month he received instructions to proceed, in the Victor 18, Capt. Geo. Lloyd, to Jamaica, there to join the Barham 50, flag-ship of Hon. Chas. Elphinstone Fleeming, who, on 1 Jan. 1828, invested him with the command of the Pickle schooner, of 3 guns, 30 men, and 6 boys. In that vessel it was his fortune to effect the capture, 6 June, 1829, after a severe action of an hour and 20 minutes, fought within pistol-shot, of the famous slaver Bolodera of 235 tons, pierced for 16 guns, mounting 2 long 18-pounders and 2 long 12’s, and manned, exclusive of armed negroes, with a crew of 60 men, 10 of whom were killed and 14 wounded – the loss of the Pickle being confined to 1 person killed, and 10, three of them mortally, wounded. For this very gallant performance Lieut. M‘Hardy deservedly received, a second time, the official acknowledgments of the Admiralty. On the Pickle being paid off at Plymouth in Oct. 1830, the state of discipline and efficiency in which she was found so attracted the attention of the Commander-in-Chief Sir Manley Dixon, that he was induced to bring his name in a most favourable manner under the notice of their Lordships; and on 20 of the following Dec. he was specially rewarded “for his meritorious services” with the rank of Commander. On 8 March, 1831, Capt. M‘Hardy was appointed Inspecting-Commander, for three years, of the Burnham (Norfolk) district of Coast Guard; on leaving which service in 1834, the Lieutenants who had been employed under his superintendence gave him a farewell dinner “in testimony of their esteem for so active and enterprising an officer.” He was re-appointed, 19 March, 1835, to the Cromer district, also on the coast of Norfolk, whence he was removed, 1 July, 1836, to the Deal district. Owing to the increase of smuggling in the Isle of Wight, Capt. M‘Hardy, in the ensuing Oct., was transferred to the district at Ryde; to which, on the expiration of his term of command, he was again appointed 22 March, 1838. He was selected, 1 Jan. 1840, to become the recipient of the Captain’s commission annually granted for good service in the Coast Guard; and has since been on half-pay.
Capt. M‘Hardy, who is Senior of 1840, was elected Chief Constable for co. Essex 11 Feb. in that year. He married, 11 Dec. 1830, Horatia Victoria Elizabeth Aitchison, daughter of the present Rear-Admiral Pasco, the officer under whose orders he first went to sea. By that lady he has issue four sons and three daughters. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.