Career
Sheppard was 37 years old, and a Boatswain"s Mate in the Royal Navy, serving with the Naval Brigade during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Venture capital. On 15 July 1855 at Sebastopol, Crimean Peninsula, Boatswain"s Mate Sheppard went into the harbour at night, in a Punt (boat) which he had especially constructed for the purpose, with an explosive device with which he intended to blow up one of the Russian warships. He made a second attempt on 16 August but although both these actions were unsuccessful, they were boldly conceived and carried out in the face of great danger. John Sheppard was only the fourth person to be awarded the Victoria Cross, and the first from Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire.
