The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-09 00:00:00

tre of hard fighting :7

ka a ru, top ne, John Williams Nesham, born in 1771,
is son of the late Christopher Nesham, Esq., (who
served as aide-de-camp to Colonel Monson at the cap-
ture of Manilla in 1762), by Mary Williams sister of
Wm. Peere Williams Freeman, Esq., who died admiral
of the fleet (1830), and a relative of the late Lord North.
This officer entered the navy Jan. 21, 1782, as first-class
volunteer, on board the Juno frigate, Captain James
Montagu ; and on June 20, in the following year, was
present, as midshipman, in the action fought between
Sir Edw. Hughes and M. de Suffrein off Cuddalore.
On his return to England in the spring of 1785, he
successively joined the Edgar, 74, and Dzmid, 32, Cap-
tains Adam Duncan and Joseph Ellison, under whom
he served at Portsmouth and in the Channel until March,
1788. In June, 1790, he became attached to the Salis-
bury, 50, bearing the flag at Newfoundland of Vice-
Admiral Milbank ; and on 17th of the following Novem-
ber he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. His
suceeeding appointments were-July 16, 1791, and Sept.
1, 1792, to the Drake sloop, Captain John Doling, and
Niger, 32, Captains Richard Goodwin Keats and Robert
Moorsom, both in the Channel-and May 11, 1793, to
the Adamant, 50, Captains W. Bentinck, H. d'Esterre
Darby, Henry Warre, and William Hotham, in which
ship we find him employed on tho West India, New-
foundland, Lisbon, and North Sea stations. Under the
officer last mentioned he was present, as first lieutenant,
in the mutiny at the Nore, and in the action off Camper-
down, Oct. 11, 1797. Being awarded a second promo-
tal commission, Jan. 2, 1798, he was next, April 13,
1801, invested with the command (which he retained
until posted April 29, 1802) of the Suffisante sloop.
His after-appointments were-Oct. 26, 1804, to the
Foudroyant, 80, bearing the flag of Sir T. Graves, off
Rochefort, where he continued until February, 1805-
and March 25, 1807 ; July 6, 1808 ; and July 21, 1809,
to the Ulysses, 44, Intrepid, 64, and Captain, 74, all en
the West India station, whither, in the Ulysses, he es-
corted a fleet of merchantmen. In that ship Captain
Nesham also co-operated in the reduction of Marie-
Galante, in March, 1808. In the Intrepid he assisted,
in February, 1809, and was mentioned in terms of high
approbation for his able support of Commodore Geo.
Cockburn, at the capture of Martinique ; where, in com-
mand with Captain Rebt. Barton of a body of about 400
seamen and marines he superintended (prior to the erec-
tion of batteries, whose fire he soon rendered irresistible)
the transport of the heavy cannon, mortars, and howit-
zers up to Mount Sourier, from the eastern side of Fort
Edward, a service, owing to the rains and the deepness
of the roads, of the utmost labour and difficulty. On
the 15th of the following April, the Intrepid was severely
cut up in au engagement with the French frigates Hen-
riade and Felicite, under the guns of Fort Matilda,
Guadeloupe. In December, 1809, Captain Nesham re-
turned to England, and paid the Captain off, that ship
being found unfit for further service. His last appoint-
ment was July 22, 1830, to the Melville, 74, in the
Mediterranean, where he remained about 12 months.
He became a retired rear-admiral Jan. 10, 1837, but
was transferred to the active list Aug. 17, 1840 ; Nov.
9, 1846, advanced to the rank of vice-admiral ; and
July 30, 1852, to the rank of admiral. The admiral
married, first, in 1802, Margaret Anne, youngest daugh-
ter of the first, sister of the second, and aunt of the
present Lord Graves ; and • (that lady dying in 1808),
secondly, in July, 1833, Elizabeth, youngest daughter
of Colonel Nicholas Bayly, brother of the late Earl of
Uxbridge, and first cousin of the Marquis of Anglesey,
K.G., G.C.B. His only daughter by his former mar-
riage became the wife, in January, 1831, of Major
Lloyd, of the 73d Regiment."