John Molloy

Captain John Molloy (5 September 1786 – 6 October 1867) was an early Irish settler in Western Australia. He was one of the original settlers of Augusta and an early settler of Busselton. Early life The outline of John Molloy's birth and early life are believed by some to be clear, though there is little detail and published accounts vary greatly. This is just one possible version that he was the same John Molloy who was baptised at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London, on 8 October 1786, the son of William and Mary Molloy. As John celebrated his birthday on 5 September in later life, his birth date may have been 5 September 1786. This William Molloy had a shoe warehouse at 16 High St, St Giles, London. He made his will in 1804, leaving bequests to his son, John, and his daughter, Susanna, who were to inherit their shares of the estate when they reached the age of 21. The will also stipulates regular payments from the estate to William Molloy's mother, who was living in King's County, Ireland. St Giles was well known as a quarter where Irish tradesmen settled. William Molloy died in December 1804. John Molloy was able to buy a commission in the Rifle Brigade on 17 December 1807, just over three months after his 21st birthday, when he came into his inheritance. He fought in the Peninsular War of 1808–10 and was promoted to lieutenant in 1809. Then, during a two-year break in military engagements, he attended the Royal Military College, at Great Marlow. From 1812 to 1814, he fought in the Napoleonic Wars under Wellington, taking part in eight battles. In 1815 he fought at Waterloo where he was badly wounded and received the Waterloo Medal. After recovering his health, he returned to active duty, being posted to Glasgow in 1819–20, then Ireland until 1825. In 1824 he was promoted to captain.