John West
Royal Navy admiral
Died when: 87 years 264 days (1052 months)Star Sign: Leo
Admiral of the Fleet Sir John West GCB (28 July 1774 – 18 April 1862) was a Royal Navy officer.West saw action as a junior officer in the first-rate HMS Royal George, the flagship of Admiral Sir Alexander Hood in the Channel Squadron, when he took part in the Glorious First of June and then in the Battle of Groix during the French Revolutionary Wars.
As commanding officer of the third-rate HMS Excellent, West served off the coast of Catalonia and landed with a naval brigade with orders to help defend Rosas which was under attack from some 5,000 French troops in an action during the Napoleonic Wars.
He took 250 of his ship's men and rescued a group migueletes (Catalan mercenaries) who were at risk of losing their lives, but not before having his own horse shot out from under him.
As a senior officer, West went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth.
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