In 1808 Captain Robyns of the Marines sailed for Barbados as part of the expedition under Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane and Lieutenant General George Beckwith.
[citation needed] In 1809 Captain John Robyns participated in the British Invasion of Martinique, a highly successful amphibious operation.
[4] Captain John Robyns remained on the Leeward Islands Station until about 1811, well after the seizure of Guadeloupe by the British forces under Cochrane and Beckwith.
Writing from HMS Tonnant, to the Admiralty Lords on 17 September 1814, Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane singled out the "frequently gallant conduct" of Robyns as worthy of special "favour and protection".
Adair's 100 Royal Marines and a similar-sized party of Edward Nicolls' Red Sticks[11] were brigaded with Colonel William Thornton (British Army officer)'s 85th Regiment of Foot (Bucks Volunteers).
Thornton's Brigade performed laudably at New Orleans, overwhelming the American line on the west bank of the Mississippi.
[13] In spite of the award of a pension for wounds received, Robyns escaped the officer reductions in the Royal Marines establishment of 1814 and 1816.