John Wyatt Watling, aged 13 years

WATLING.
Acasta Midshipman under Capt. Fellowes/Wood, July 1802 - 1803, aged approx. 13 years.

John Wyatt Watling was born in 1789, at Leominster, CO. Hereford. He descends from the family of Sir Thos. Wyatt, who was beheaded in the reign of Queen Mary, for leading an insurgent force into London.

This officer (he had previously been in the merchant-service) entered the Navy 4 March, 1801, as Ordinary, on board the Veteran 64, Capt. Archibald Collingwood Dickson, and sailed shortly afterwards with the expedition against Copenhagen. On the memorable 2 of April, having rendezvoused in the launch on board the Elephant 74, bearing Lord Nelson's flag, he was successively employed in rendering assistance to the Bellona and Russel 74's, both which ships had grounded, also in towing the disabled Monarch out of action, and in taking possession of several of the prizes. He continued to serve in the Veteran in the capacity of Midshipman until July, 1802; and on then removing to the Acasta 40, Capts. Edw. Fellowes and Jas. Athol Wood, he sailed for the Mediterranean. He was subsequently, from Nov. 1803, until March, 1805, employed in the Goliath 74, Capt. Chas. Brisbane, and from the latter date until June, 1808, in the Iris 32 and Virginie of 46 guns and 281 men, both commanded by Capt. Edw. Brace. In the boats of the Goliath he aided, in the early part of 1804, in cutting out a French brig from under the protection of a national cutter of 10 guns, and of the powerful batteries at Sable d'Olonne; an affair in which the British sustained a loss of several men killed and wounded, including among the former a First-Lieutenant of Marines, Mr. Kent.

Source: A NAVAL BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY: COMPRISING THE LIFE AND SERVICES OF EVERY LIVING OFFICER IN HER MAJESTY'S NAVY, FROM THE RANK OF ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET TO THAT OF LIEUTENANT, INCLUSIVE. Compiled from Authentic and Family Documents. BY WILLIAM E. O'BYRNE, ESQ.
LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, PUBLISHER TO THE ADMIRALTY. 1849.