John Ferrier

Who was John Ferrier?

John Ferrier was a British officer in the Royal Navy who served during the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

Ferrier was serving as a lieutenant during the American War of Independence, and was promoted to his first command after the conflict, a small cutter. He was advanced to post-captain shortly before the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars, but did not receive a ship for several years. Finally given the 64-gun HMS York in 1796, he was sent to the West Indies, where he spent five years before returning with a convoy of merchants and the thanks of the West Indian merchants. He then served under Horatio Nelson in the Channel during the blockade and raids on Boulogne, and then in the North Sea, receiving Nelson's praise for his service.

With the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars Ferrier was active in the Channel in command of a 74-gun ship, before being sent to the East Indies.