John Child Purvis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 March 1747 Norfolk |
| Died | 1825 Lymington, Hampshire |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Great Britain (to 1800) United Kingdom (from 1801) |
| Service |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1778–1825 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Battles / wars | |
Admiral John Child Purvis (13 March 1747 – 1825) was a British Royal Navy officer of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century best known for his service with the British Mediterranean Fleet during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Coming from a naval family, Purvis first saw action in small ships during the American Revolutionary War, later commanding a ship of the line with the Mediterranean Fleet during 1793-1796. During this period he fought in several significant battles against the French. He then served with the Channel Fleet operating at the blockade of Brest and in the Napoleonic Wars was promoted and tasked with maintaining the blockade of Cadiz. After the outbreak of the Peninsular War, Purvis was active in preventing the French capture of Cadiz and at one stage destroyed the city's seaward defences. He retired post-war to his home in Hampshire.