468
HARRIS.
to the Favorite sloop, Capt. Benj. Clement, under whom, while soon afterwards returning with the Jamaica trade to England, he was nearly lost in a hurricane – and, 14 Sept. 1810, in a similar capacity, to the Helena sloop, Capts. Jas. Andrew Worth, Henry Haynes, and Henry Montresor, in which vessel he thrice escorted convoy to the West Indies. Having been on half-pay since 1813, at which period the state of his health had caused him to invalid, Commander Harris, on 30 April, 1845, was induced to accept the rank he now holds. Agent – J. Chippendale.
HARRIS. (Commander, 1815. f-p., 12; h-p., 32.)
James Harris, born 15 April, 1791, is second son of Joseph Harris, Esq., solicitor, of Leominster, co. Hereford, by Elizabeth, daughter of Wm. Hooper, Esq., a descendant of the celebrated Bishop of that name.
This officer entered the Navy, in Aug. 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board La Virginie 38, Capt., afterwards Admiral, Sir John Poo Beresford, in which ship, until she was paid off in Aug. 1804, he was employed cruizing in the North Sea and Downs, and was on one occasion all but lost during a three weeks’ gale. From Dec. in the latter year until advanced to the rank of Commander 23 June, 1815, Mr. Harris further served, under the command of Sir J. P. Beresford, on the Halifax, West India, Home, and North and South American stations, in the Cambrian 38, Theseus and Poictiers 74’s (of which latter ship he was created a Lieutenant 26 Feb. 1810), and, as Signal-officer, in the Duncan 74. While in the Cambrian, Mr. Harris assisted at the capture of three privateers carrying in the whole 40 guns and 225 men; and on one occasion, while serving in the boats, he was not only wounded, but so distinguished himself as to be noted for early promotion. He subsequently, when in the Theseus, commanded the pinnace belonging to that ship, and was employed covering the retreat of the officers and men who had been engaged in the attack on the French squadron in Aix Roads, 11 April, 1809. During the operations of the following day against the enemy, Mr. Harris, then on board the Theseus, received a splinter-wound in the left leg; the injury he had formerly received having been in the right one. The Theseus being next attached to the force at the siege of Flushing, our officer, on the surrender of that place, was sent on shore, with the carpenter and a party of shipwrights and seamen, for the purpose of completing a frigate and two brigs, and of taking to pieces the frame of a 74. In the Poictiers, after having participated in many boat-attacks on the coast of France, Lieut. Harris proceeded off the Tagus; up which river he was sent, in command of that ship’s barge and two cutters, as far as Alhandra, the extreme right of Lord Wellington’s army, then at the lines of Torres Tedras, where he remained until Marshal Masséna’s retreat; on which occasion he followed the troops to Santarem, and rendered much valuable service. He subsequently, when on the North American station, commanded the Poictier’s launch in an attack made in 1812 on Lewis Town, at the entrance of Delaware river; and a few days after that event he had the good fortune, with a single boat’s crew, to effect the capture of an East Indiaman of 20 guns, which within a week was ransomed at 45,000l Commander Harris has not been afloat since the attainment of his present rank.
He married, 31 July, 1821, Elizabeth Anne, only daughter of the Rev. Henry Beavan, Rector of Whitton, co. Radnor, Vioar of Llanguullo, and Rural Dean of the Diocese of St David’s, by whom he has issue one son.
HARRIS. (Commander, 1841. f-p., 19; h-p., 6.)
Robert Harris, born 9 July, 1809, is son of Jas. Harris, Esq., of Wittersham Hall, co. Kent; and grandson of Mrs. Trimmer, the authoress.
This officer entered the Navy, 26 Jan. 1822, as a Volunteer, on board the Euryalus 42, Capt. Augustus Wm. Jas. Clifford, and in the course of the year 1824 was employed at the blockade of Algiers. In June, 1825, after having served for a few months in the Algerine 10, Capt. Hon. Montagu Stopford, he joined the Cambrian 48, Capt. Gawen Wm. Hamilton, under whom we find him enacting a part in the battle of Navarin, sharing also in the capture of numerous pirates in the Grecian Archipelago, and ultimately suffering shipwreck during an attack on a nest of those marauders at Carabusa, 31 Jan. 1828. In Jan. 1829, on his return to England, Mr. Harris was received, as Mate, on board the Ferret 10, Capt. Thos. Hastings, through whose agency he soon succeeded in obtaining an appointment to the Royal George yacht, Capts. Geo. Mundy and Lord Adolphus FitzClarence. During the four years his name was borne on the books of that vessel, he appears to have been continuously employed, as officer in charge of a watch, on board the Onyx and Pantaloon tenders, in which vessels he visited South America, the West Indies, and the coasts of Spain and Portugal, was employed in surveying the coast of Ireland, and cruized in the Channel. Attaining the rank of Lieutenant 21 May, 1833, he subsequently joined – 28 Dec. 1833, the Excellent, Capt. Thos. Hastings, gunnery-ship at Portsmouth, where his scientific attainments procured him the highest awardable certificate – and 19 Jan. 1836, the Melville 72, Capts. Peter John Douglas and Hon. Rich. Saunders Dundas, in which ship, bearing the flags for some time of Sir Peter Halkett and Hon. Geo. Elliot, he served for four years as Gunnery-Lieutenant in North America and the West Indies, at the Cape of Good Hope, and on the China coast. While on the latter station, Mr. Harris, besides participating in the capture, 26 Feb. 1841, of the forts at the Boca Tigris, commanded a rocket-boat in the operations against the various defences in the Canton river, between the “First Bar” and Napier’s Fort. He was advanced, in consideration of the action at the Boca Tigris, to the rank of Commander 8 June, 1841. In the following Aug. he was paid off. His last appointment was, 7 Sept. 1844, to the Flying Fish 12, fitting for the coast of Africa, whence he returned in May, 1846.
Commander Harris, who has acquired a knowledge of steam machinery, was employed as a student at the Royal Naval College from Jan. to Dec. 1842. In 1841, on his return from China, he published, under the title of ‘Remarks on Heaving-down a 72-gun Ship,’ an account of the peculiar circumstances which had attended that operation as regarded the Melville, when at Chusan; touching at the same time upon some nautical subjects previously but little noticed. This work attracted the favourable notice of the Admiralty, and was ordered to be supplied to the different seamen’s libraries. Its author married, 10 Jan. 1843, Priscilla Sophia, daughter of Capt. Penruddocke, of the Fusilier Guards, and grand-daughter of the late Chas. Penruddocke, Esq., of Compton Park, M.P. for North Wilts. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.
HARRIS. (Lieut., 1811. f-p., 25; h-p., 22.)
William Clark Harris entered the Navy, 6 Jan. 1800, as a Volunteer, on board the Alarm frigate, Capt. Robt. Rolles, on the Jamaica station, where, from the following Oct. until Feb. 1806, he served, as Midshipman, in the Apollo frigate, Capt. Peter Halkett, Hunter and Goelan sloops, Capts. Sam. Hood Inglefield and John Ayscough, and Pitt schooner, Lieut.-Commander Michael Fitton. He then, for the purpose of returning home, joined Le Brave, Capt. Edm. Boger, which ship, however, one of those taken in the action off St. Domingo, unfortunately foundered during her passage in a gale between the Western Islands and the banks of Newfoundland, 12 April, 1806, just affording time for her officers and crew to be rescued by the Donegal 74, Capt. Pulteney Malcolm, then in company. Owing to the consequent loss of his certificates and other papers, and to the Pitt’s books not being sent to England, Mr. Harris, although he had served his time, was unable to pass his examina-
