John Cushing Aylwin was born ca. 1780 in Quebec, Canada, whither his parents had removed at the time of the siege of Boston. He was the son of Thomas Aylwin, a merchant of Boston, and Lucy (Cushing) Aylwin, a sister of William Cushing, justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Receiving an excellent education, he manifested a love for the sea and was rated on board a frigate in the British navy. The odious system of impressment pursued by England at that time producing in him a strong aversion, he took service aboard a vessel engaged in the London trade on condition that he should enjoy six months' tuition at a naval academy. This promise, however, was not kept, and young Aylwin was forced to continue in the West Indian trade.
His progress in seamanship was so rapid that he was promoted to be mate of his ship at the age of fifteen. Aylwin was forced to serve aboard a gun-brig and caused to enter the British navy voluntarily. However, he steadfastly refused and continued his enforced service in the navy for six years.
Only when his health temporarily declined, he immediately rejoined his parents in Boston.
Recovering his health, he served as captain of several merchant ships out of Boston. At the outbreak of war in 1812, he was appointed sailing-master with the rank of lieutenant of the frigate Constitution, under Capt. Hull.
Then, he continued his service as sailing-master in the Constitution under Capt. Bainbridge. On December 29, 1812, he took part in the battle between Constitution and HMS Java. He was severely wounded during this fight, and he ended his life in this frigate, at the sea.
Sailing-master with the rank of lieutenant of the frigate Constitution, he earned a large share of the credit for this famous vessel's escape from the powerful British fleet, after a chase of sixty hours. Sailing-master in the same frigate under Capt. Bainbridge, on August 19, 1812, he took a prominent part in the battle which resulted in the capture of the British frigate Guerrière.
Quotes from others about the person
"In the action with the Guerrière he stood on an elevated situation, by the side of his brave comrades, Morris and Bush, at the time the two vessels came in contact, and was wounded in the left shoulder with a musket ball. .. . In the late action [with the Java] he commanded the forecastle division, and his bravery and marked coolness throughout the contest gained him the admiration of his commander, and all who had an opportunity of witnessing him. When boarders were called to repel boarders, he mounted the quarter-deck hammock cloths, and, in the act of firing his pistols at the enemy, received a ball through the same shoulder. Notwithstanding the serious nature of his wound, he continued at his post until the enemy had struck; and even then did not make known his situation until all the wounded had been dressed. His zeal and courage did not forsake him in his last moments, for, a few days after the action, although laboring under considerable debility and the most excruciating pain, he repaired to quarters, when an engagement was expected with a ship. .. . He bore his pain with great and unusual fortitude, and expired without a groan. "
There is no record of his own family.
