John Shaw

Ships Owned

Notes on Officer

Captain John Shaw, born in 1716, was the most notable commander of the American war. Little is known of his earlier career, except that it was said in 1778 that he had served “in the two last wars both as a seaman and an officer,” and he is probably the John Shaw who commanded the Blakeney in 1756, Tartar in 1757, Bristol in 1758, and Pitt in 1768. In December, 1772, Captain Shaw was living in Princes Street, and was master of the Britannia yacht, running to Cork and Youghal. This vessel is advertised in Felix Farley’s Bristol Journal of 6th November, 1773, as follows:
“For Cork, The Britannia Yacht, John Shaw, Master, will sail in a few days. Ladies and Gentlemen may depend on the said yacht sailing on the day appointed, if the Wind and Weather permit. That nothing shall be wanting relative to the Yacht or her Accommodations, to render her Passage more agreeable.
“Johnny Shaw requests the favour of the Gentlemen Shippers, who intend favouring him with Goods, to let him know the Quantity and Quality, that he might keep the Britannia in a galloping Trim. Good Accommodations for Horses and Carriages. The said yacht lies at the lower end of Princes Street.”
After commanding the Lion in 1778 and Caesar in 1780, Captain John Shaw was appointed on 13th December, 1781, by the Society of Merchant Venturers, Haven Master of Bristol, in succession to Captain John Baker, deceased. The following reference to Captain Shaw is from Bonner and Middleton’s Bristol Journal of 15th July, 1786 :— On 13th July “the Gentlemen who compose a Musical Society of this city, with several of their friends, proceeded on an excursion down the river in a large barge commodiously fitted up for that purpose, with colours flying and accompanied by several boats with other parties. On reaching Hungroad, Capt. Shaw, with his usual politeness, saluted them with 13 guns, and a display of colours from his platform; from thence they proceeded to Portishead, where the several companies dined in a rural manner in the wood and fields adjacent. On the flood of tide they embarked, and proceeded again to Hungroad, where they had a second salute of 13 guns from Capt. Shaw. After waiting for some little time they returned to Bristol. The day being exceedingly fine incredible numbers assembled on every part of the banks of the river, and great numbers on the rocks of Clifton Down, which had a most pleasant effect to those on the water. The songs, catches, glees and choruses, were performed admirably to those who were within hearing. However, the sight alone was the most pleasing we have ever remembered on the river.”
Captain Shaw died on 20th December, 1796, at Liberty Hall, Hungroad, “much respected by a numerous acquaintance.” There is a monument to his memory in Shirehampton Churchyard, which bears the following inscription
“Sacred to the memory of John Shaw Haven Master of Hungroad Port of Bristol and Formerly Captain of the Lion Privateer of 44 guns and 168 men which on the night of the 6th of December 1778 engaged L’Orient French Man of War of 74 guns and 800 men, the scene of Action was the Bay of Biscay where after 2 hours close engagement the enemy was beaten off with the loss of 137 killed and 244 wounded, the Lion had 22 killed and 19 wounded.