John Goodwin Gregory Peyton

John Goodwin Gregory Peyton (1752 – 2 August 1809) was an officer in the Royal Navy during the American and French revolutionary wars. As a lieutenant, he fought alongside his father Joseph Peyton, at the Moonlight Battle off Cape St Vincent, and later, in 1798, commanded at the Battle of the Nile. He retired a Rear admiral in 1800 and died in 1809 at the age of 56. Early life and career John Goodwin Gregory Peyton was born in Ardingly, Sussex in 1752 to Joseph Peyton and his wife Katherine. The Peytons were a naval family; at least five generations served and both his grandfather, Edward Peyton and his father attained the rank of admiral. John was one of seven children, five boys and two girls, and of his four brothers, all but one entered the Royal Navy: The eldest, named after his father, also became an admiral, the younger brother, William was an administrator, the youngest, Thomas, died while in command of in 1801. Peyton's early career is not well documented, and he is sometimes confused with other family members, but it is most likely that he is the Peyton registered aboard his father's ship, , in 1766. Promoted to lieutenant in 1772, he remained with his father, fighting in at the first Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1780.