John Fairweather

John Fairweather

John Fairweather, who joined the Royal Navy in 1782 as an able seaman, rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a Commander, and after retiring spending three years in charge of Jersey’s signal station

He entered the Navy on 6 July 1872 as an able seaman on board HMS Speedy, under the command of Captain John Young on the Home station.

He served for five years in the West Indies as Quartermaster of the Europa, the flagship of Admirals Gambier and Innes.

He was appointed Midshipman of the Dictator under captain Richard Rodney Bligh (A cousin of Lieutenant Bligh of Mutiny on the Bounty fame), and Britannia, a 100-gun flagship of Vice-Admiral Hotham, in the Mediterranean.

Captured French vessel

After two years serving as Acting-Master of the Tisiphone and Juno, he became Master’s Mate and then Acting-Lieutenant of the Dryad, during which time he was put in charge of L’Aveille, a cutter taken from the French off the coast of Ireland.

In 1797 he joined the Hazard as Lieutenant and assisted in the capture of the French vessel Le Neptune.

The British Naval Biographical Dictionary of 1849 recorded:'His able assistance and good conduct on the latter occasion, as indded on all others, procured him a strong recommendation from His Captain, William Butterfield, who declared him worthy of his warmest encomiums.'

Fairweather servedfrom 1799 to 1805 on board the Canada, Polyphemus, Fortunee and Majestic on the Home station.

For three years he was then Agent for Transports afloat on on 11 July 1808 was appointed to the charge of the signal station in Jersey, subsequently retiring on half pay. He married Mary Ann Viel, from London, in Essex in 1808 and they had three sons all born and baptised in Jersey.