A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Currie, Mark John
CURRIE. (Captain, 1841. f-p., 17; h-p., 22.)
Mark John Currie, born in 1795, in London, is son of the late Mark Currie, Esq., by Eliza, daughter of John Close, Esq., of Easby, co. York; and first-cousin of Raikes Currie, Esq., M.P. for Northampton.
This officer entered the Navy, 29 April, 1808, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Warspite 74, Capt. Hon. Henry Blackwood, with whom he continued to serve, on the Home and Mediterranean stations, latterly as Midshipman, until April, 1813. He then, in the Niobe 38, Capt. Wm. Augustus Montagu, cruized for some months off the coasts of Portugal and Spain; and, obtaining his first commission 23 Sept. 1814, was appointed, 24 Oct. following, to the Centaur 74, Capt. Thos. Gordon Caulfeild, in which ship he visited the Cape of Good Hope. We subsequently find him joining – 8 Feb. 1816, the Rivoli 74, Capts. Chas. Ogle and Aiskew Paffard Hollis, at Portsmouth – 7 May, 1818, the Racehorse 18, Capt. Hon. Geo. Pryse Campbell, in the Mediterranean – 29 March, 1820, the Nimrod 18, Capt. Chas. Nelson, at Leith – and, 20 Oct. 1820, and 8 Aug. 1821, the Satellite 18, Capt. Armar Lowry Corry, and, as Flag-Lieutenant, the Leander 50, flag-ship of Hon. Sir Henry Blackwood, on the E. India station. He there assumed command, 9 Jan. 1823, of his former sloop the Satellite; and, on 18 March following, was appointed Acting-Captain of the Asia, an 84-gun ship, which he brought home under very peculiar and trying circumstances, and in a manner that saved the Government considerable expense. He was not, however, confirmed to Post-rank until 23 Nov. 1841; since which period he has been unemployed.
Capt. Currie, we find, officiated with great ability as Secretary, in 1827-8, to Sir H. Blackwood, then Commander in Chief at the Nore. He also, from 1829 until 1832, fulfilled the duties of Colonial Auditor and Secretary to the Executive and Legislative Councils of Western Australia; and for the zeal and intelligence he displayed in those capacities, he received the thanks of the Governor, Sir Jas. Stirling. He married, 14 Jan. 1829, Jane, third daughter of Chas. Boynton Wood, Esq., by whom he has issue three sons and three daughters. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.