John Lennon people attended the "John Sinclair Freedom Rally", a protest and benefit concert with contributions from Lennon, Stevie Wonder, Bob Seger, Bobby Seale of the Black Panther Party, and others. Lennon and Ono, backed by David Peel and Rubin, performed an acoustic set of four songs from their forthcoming "Some Time in New York City" album including "John Sinclair", whose lyrics called for his release. The day before the rally, the Michigan Senate passed a bill that significantly reduced the penalties for possession of marijuana and four days later Sinclair was released on an appeal bond. The performance was recorded and
John Lennon (Royal Navy officer) John Lennon (Royal Navy officer) John Lennon (1768–1846), was a naval captain, born at Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1768. He is stated to have served as a midshipman in the British Royal Navy during the American Revolution. In 1796, when in command of the letter of marque schooner "Favorite", of Martinique, he was very severely wounded and his ship was taken by a French privateer of very superior force after a fierce engagement of one hour and twenty minutes' duration. In 1798 he was in command of the "General Keppel", also of Martinique, which was capsized in a white squall