| abstract | - John Loring (died 9 November 1808) was an officer in the Royal Navy who served during the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Loring was a descendant of a naval officer, with his first-cousin also making a successful career in the Navy. John Loring saw some service in the American War of Independence, being promoted to lieutenant during the war, but remained at this rank until shortly after the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars. He went out to the Mediterranean with his first command and served at the Siege of Toulon under Admiral Lord Hood. His ship was under repair when the city fell to French forces, and he was forced to burn her to keep her out of enemy hands. His service continued though, and he became acting-captain of the 74-gun HMS Bellerophon for a brief period before a new officer was appointed to replace her original captain. Loring went on to command several ships of the line, before one again taking over HMS Bellerophon, this time as a full post-captain. He served in the West Indies, and distinguished himself after the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars by superintending the Blockade of Saint-Domingue, with the post of commodore. During the blockade a number of French warships, merchants and privateers were taken by his squadron, and he oversaw the surrender and evacuation of the French garrison of Haiti. He finally returned to Britain in 1805 and paid his ship off. He does not appear to have served in a seagoing command again, but commanded the Plymouth guardship for two years and took up a shore-based position as commander of a unit of the Sea Fencibles. He died in 1808, still with the rank of captain. He was succeeded by at least two sons, who followed their father into the navy.
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