John Henry Windham, born 22 Oct. 1809, is son (by Anne, daughter of Peter Thellusson, Esq., of Broadsworth, co. York, and sister of the first Lord Rendlesham) of the late Wm. Windham, Esq., Vice-Admiral of the White, of Felbrigg Hall, co. Norfolk, who assumed the name of Windham, in lieu of his patronymic Lukin, on inheriting in 1824 the estates of his uncle the Right Hon. Wm. Windham. He is brother of the present Wm. Howe Windham, Esq., of Felbrigg Hall (a son-in-law of the Marquess of Bristol), who represented the Eastern division of co. Norfolk in 1832, and served as Sheriff in 1842; also of Capt. Chas. and Lieut. Joseph Windham, of the Coldstream and 1st Foot Guards; and of the Countess of Listowel.
This officer entered the Royal Naval College 5 Sept. 1822; and embarked, in Sept. 1824, on board the Orestes 18, Capt. Henry Litchfield; in which vessel and in the Aurora 46, Capt. John Maxwell, Forte 44, Capt. Jeremiah Coghlan, and Challenger 28, Capts. John Hayes and Adolphus FitzClarence, he was for about four years employed as Midshipman on the Channel, Lisbon, and North American stations. He passed his examination 3 Dec. 1828 served next, as Mate and Acting-Lieutenant, in the Ferret 10, Capt. Thos. Hastings, in the Mediterranean; was officially promoted 17 April, 1831; and was appointed afterwards – 1 May, 1832, to the Vernon 50, Capt. Sir Fras. Augustus Collier, an experimental ship – 26 Dec. following, as a Supernumerary-Lieutenant, to the Isis 50, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Fred. Warren at the Cape of Good Hope – and, 13 April, 1835 (the Isis had been paid off in the preceding Dec), to the Barham 50, Capt. Armar Lowry Corry, fitting for the Mediterranean, whence an illness that seriously affected his sight compelled him, in Oct. 1837, to invalid. He attained his present rank 28 June, 1838; and served as an Inspecting-Commander in the Coast Guard from 3 July, 1843, until July, 1848. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.