John Barrett (died 1810) was an Irish captain in the Royal Navy.

Life

A native of

Drogheda Drogheda ( , ; , meaning "bridge at the ford") is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, north of Dublin. It is located on the Dublin–Belfast corridor on the east coast of Ireland, mostly in County Louth ...

, Barrett was made a lieutenant on 2 November 1793, and having distinguished himself in command of the store-ship ''Experiment'' at the capture of

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, in June 1795, he was, on 25 November, advanced to the rank of post-captain. In October 1808, during the Gunboat War Barret had the dangerous task of convoying a merchant fleet of 137 sail through the Sound, then infested by the Danish gunboats. His force, quite unsuitable for the work, consisted of his own ship, , of 64 guns, and a few gun-brigs; in a calm, the small heavily armed row-boats of the Danes had an enormous advantage, and in an attack on the English squadron on 20 October they inflicted a very heavy loss on the ''Africa''. In such a contest the English gun-brigs were useless, and the Danish boats, taking a position on the ''Africa'' bows or quarters, galled her exceedingly; twice her flag was shot away, her masts and yards badly wounded, her rigging cut to pieces, her hull shattered, and with several large shot between wind and water; nine men were killed and fifty-three wounded. The engagement lasted all the afternoon. "Had the daylight and calm continued two hours longer, the ''Africa'' must either have sunk or surrendered; as it was, her disabled state sent the ship back to

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to refit". Shipwreck turner

In 1810 Barrett had command of , 74 guns, and was again employed in convoying the Baltic trade. On a wild stormy night of December the ship was driven on the sands of the Texel and lost, with nearly 500 of her crew, Barrett amongst them. He is described as having acted to the last with perfect coolness and composure. "We all owe nature a debt", he is reported to have said; "let us pay it like men of honour".

Notes

References

;Attribution * Endnotes: **Brenton's ''Naval Hist. of Great Britain'', iv. 499 **James's ''Naval Hist. of Great Britain'' (ed. 1860), i. 333, iv. 369. {{DEFAULTSORT:Barrett, John Year of birth missing 1810 deaths 18th-century Irish people 19th-century Irish people Irish sailors Royal Navy officers People from Drogheda Deaths due to shipwreck at sea