A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Curry, Douglas
CURRY. (Captain, 1846. f-p., 22; h-p., 2.)
Douglas Curry, born at Gorlston, North Yarmouth, is second son of Vice-Admiral Rich. Curry, C.B.
This officer entered the Royal Naval College 6 Feb. 1823. He embarked in Dec. 1824, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Rose 18, Capts. Hon. Chas. Abbot (now Lord Colchester) and Lewis Davies; and while afterwards cruizing, as Midshipman, in the Archipelago, witnessed several encounters with piratical vessels, on one of which occasions the boat he was in suffered a loss of 1 man killed and 2 wounded. Participating, next, in the battle of Navarin, 20 Oct. 1827, Mr. Curry on that day took command of the Rose’s pinnace, and sustained a severe fracture of both bones of the right leg while in the act of boarding a Turkish fire-vessel, which blew up with destructive effect, killing or wounding all around.[1] In consequence of this disaster he was unfortunately confined for many months, first to Malta and then to Haslar Hospital. He then, however, joined the Windsor Castle 74, Capt. Hon. Duncombe Pleydell Bouverie, in the Mediterranean; and passing his examination on his return to England, 12 June, 1829, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, by commission dated the same day. He was subsequently appointed – 17 Aug. 1830, to the Rainbow 28, Capt. Sir John Franklin, again in the Mediterranean – 7 May and 25 June, 1834, to the Tribune 24, Capt. Jas. Tomkinson, and, as First, to the Talbot 28, Capt. Follett Walrond Pennell, on the Home and South American stations – and, 18 Nov. 1837, also as Senior, to the Pique 36, Capt. Edw. Boxer, in which frigate he sailed for North America and the West Indies, and ultimately returned to the Mediterranean. During the operations of 1840 on the coast of Syria, Mr. Curry commanded the Pique’s boats, and assisted in destroying the guns on the ramparts of Caiffa 17 Sept.[2] – was spoken of in the highest terms for his conduct in levelling the approach to the town of Tsour, on the occasion of its capture, 25 Sept.[3] – and afterwards (Capt. Boxer being otherwise employed) carried the Pique into action at St. Jean d’Acre. For these services he was promoted to the rank of Commander on 4 Nov. in the same year, and appointed, 15 Dec. following, Second-Captain of the Hastings 72, Capt. John Lawrence, which ship he paid off 8 Feb. 1842. He obtained an Inspectorship in the Coast-Guard 24 March, 1843, and from 31 Jan. 1846, until the attainment of his present rank, which took place on 9 Nov. in the same year, commanded the Harlequin 12, in the Mediterranean.
Capt. Curry, who possesses a certificate of his ability in the art of steam-navigation, has been in the receipt, since June, 1829, of a pension for his wounds of 91l. 5s. He married, 9 Feb. 1843, Mary Ann, only child of the late Chas. F. H. Rowe, Esq., of Willicote, near Stratford-on-Avon, co. Warwick, and was left a widower, 1 Jan. 1844.