John Cheyne

     John Cheyne was baptized, 22 August 1779, in Crail Parish, Fife, Scotland.¹

John entered the Royal Navy in 1790. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant, 11 January 1797 and a Commander, 4 December 1813. His entry in Eminent Men of Fife reads "CHIENE, Captain JOHN, R.N., born at Crail, Fife, in 1779, was the son of a shipowner there, and nephew of Robert Chiene, Esq., who died Master Attendant of the dockyard at Minorca in 1802. This officer entered the navy in 1790, and was midshipman on board the Diadem, 64, Commanded by Captain Sutherland, and took part in the siege of Toulon, as likewise in the reduction of Corsica, of the towns of St Furenza, Bastia, and Calvi, and on his subsequent transference to the Berwick, 74, Captain Adam Littlejohn, he was with that sh1p taken by the French Mediterranean fleet, after a long running fight, 7th March 1795. On regaining his liberty Mr Chiene joined, 9th October 1795, the Princess Royal, 98, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Robert Linzee. He removed next to the Victory, 100, flagship, Sir John Jervis, and on 11th January 1797 was promoted to a lieutenancy in La Machonesa, 32, Captain John Gifford. He continued to serve in the Mediterranean on board the St George, 98, Captain Holloway, and Santa Theresa, 32, Captain Robert Campbell. He had previously, as first lieutenant of the latter ship, aided at the blockade of Malta, being present in the operations on the Coast of Genoa, and obtained the Egyptian Medal. From February 1802 until March 1807 -- with the exception of a twelvemonth in 1803-4, when we find him on board the Britannia, 100, Captain the Earl of Northesk, on the home station -- Mr Chiene appears to have been on half-pay. He was then, however appointed first lieutenant of La Nymphe, 38, which he fitted for sea without a captain, and subsequently of the Muros, 20, Captain Arch. Duff, Princess of Orange, 74, Captain Fras Beauman (with whom he attended the expedition to Flushing in August 1809), and Monmouth, 64, commanded by the same officer. From April 1811 until Feb. 1813 he further served as flag lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Philip Charles Durham, on board the Ardent, 64, and Hannibal, Christian VII., Venerable, and Bulwark, 74's, chiefly on the home station. Finally, he joined the Princess Caroline, 74, Captain Hugh Downman, as first lieutenant, and after serving nine months received his hard earned promotion. During the whole of these long and arduous duties he commanded the esteem and respect of all that served under him, as well as the regard of his brother officers and the approbation of his superiors. The peace of 1814 deprived him of all chance of further employment, and like many others of our brave officers, he retired into private life. Captain Chiene died suddenly at his house, Williamston, near North Berwick, on the 16th of April 1848, deeply regretted by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance".^2,3

John Chiene married Mary Todd 14 January 1803, in Crail Parish, Fife, Scotland. A John Cheyne married Mary Todd in Crail, Fife, 1803. This John is probably he. The second daughter is named Mary Duncan Cheyne, after his mother. The first son is John, after his father.⁴

John Chiene was listed on the 1841 British Census, at South Nelson Street No. 15, in Edinburgh, Saint Marys Parish, Midlothian, Scotland. He was head of household. Also in the household were Mary Chiene. He was listed as "Navy", 61 years of age and born in Scotland, not Midlothian.⁵

John Cheyne died 16 April 1848 at Williamston in Berwickshire, Scotland.²