PERRY, JOHN [SSNE 1049]

Surname

PERRY

First name

JOHN

Title/rank

CAPTAIN, CIVIL ENGINEER

Nationality

ENGLISH

Text source

John Perry was a civil engineer and traveller who engaged in constructing waterways in Russia between 1698-1712. Perry had been disgraced and courtmartialled in the Royal Navy. He was however a good engineer and was recommended to Tsar Peter by Carmarthen in 1698. Tsar Peter entrusted Perry with major canal and hydrolic works. He eventually returned to England in 1712 and went on to earn fame for daming a breach in the Thames Embankment.

A. G. Cross, By the Banks of the Neva (Cambridge, 1997), p.161; DNB.

Service record

RUSSIA,

Arrived 1698-01-01

Departed 1712-12-31

Capacity CIVIL ENGINEER, purpose ROYAL SERVANT