John Rous

John Rous (21 May 1702 – 3 April 1760) was a Royal Navy officer and privateer. He served during King George's War and the French and Indian War. Rous was also the senior naval officer on the Nova Scotia station during Father Le Loutre's War. Rous' daughter Mary married Richard Bulkeley and is buried in the Old Burying Ground in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Family and early life Rous was born in Charlestown, Middlesex, Massachusetts on 21 May 1702, to William Rouse (Rows) and Mary, née Peachie.

King George's War

He became a privateer during King George's War, part of the War of the Austrian Succession carried out in the North American colonies of Britain and France. He appears to have been in the navy in April and May 1740, serving as master's mate aboard the 50-gun . ON the ship Young Eagle, he made raids on the French fishing fleets and ports on the north shore of Newfoundland. He went on to command his own privateer ship, the 20-gun snow , serving as second in command of the New England naval forces at the Siege of Louisbourg in 1745.

On 19 May 1745 he came to the assistance of HMS Mermaid, which was engaged with the 64-gun French . He was the first to render assistance, and the French ship was duly captured. Rous was rewarded for his efforts by Rear-Admiral Sir Peter Warren, who ordered Vigilante be purchased for the navy, and appointed Rous third lieutenant of her on 22 June 1745. In 1747, after the Battle of Grand Pré, Rous sailed for the Minas Basin with a detachment under the command of Captain John Winslow, to re-establish British control over the area. The Shirley was paid off in June 1747, and on 7 May 1749 he took over the 14-gun HMS Albany.