A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Harcourt, Frederick Edward Vernon
HARCOURT, formerly Vernon. (Captain, 1814.)
Frederick Edward Vernon Harcourt, born in 1790, is fourth son of the Right Hon. Edw. Harcourt, D.D., D.C.L., P.C., Archbishop of York, Primate of England, and Lord High Almoner to the Queen, by Anne, third daughter of Granville, first Marquess of Stafford. He is brother of G. G. V. Harcourt, Esq., M.P. for the co. of Oxford; of the Rev. L. V. Harcourt, Chancellor of York; of Capt. O. V. Harcourt, R.N.; of H. V. Harcourt, Esq., a Lieut.-Colonel in the army; and of Lieut.-Colonel Fras. Harcourt, of the Grenadier Guards, Equerry to the Duchess of Kent. He is cousin of the present Lord Vernon; and is closely connected with the Earls of Lucan, Oxford, Liverpool, Harcourt, and Leicester.
This officer entered the Navy, in Feb. 1803, as Midshipman, on board the Calcutta 50, armée en flûte, Capt. Dan. Woodriff. On his return from a voyage round the world, performed by that ship in the short period of 10 months and three days, he joined, in July, 1804, the Latona 38, Capt. Thos. Le Marchant Gosselin, with whom, on removing to the Audacious 74, he went in pursuit of Jerome Buonaparte to the West Indies. Being ultimately promoted, from the Centaur 74, bearing the flag of Sir Sam. Hood, to a Lieutenancy, 29 April, 1809, in the Implacable 74, commanded in the Baltic by Capts. Thos. Byam Martin and Geo. Cockburn, he took part in the boats of that ship in numerous detached services under Lieut. Joseph Hawkey, and on 7 of the ensuing July was especially mentioned for his highly exemplary conduct in a brilliant cutting-out affair, the particulars of which have been detailed in our narrative of the present Capt. Chas. Allen.[1] He was in consequence, as soon as he had completed his two years’ servitude as Lieutenant, advanced to the rank of Commander, by commission dated 29 April, 1811. Previously, however, to the consummation of that event, he appears to have been further employed in making a voyage to the Havana, and assisting at the defence of l’Isla de Leon. In Sept. 1813, Capt. Harcourt, who had assumed command, on 25 of the preceding May, of the Challenger 16, took part in the siege of St. Sebastian; and on 13 of the following Oct. we find him contributing to the capture of Le Flibustier French national brig, mounting 16 guns, a brass howitzer, and 4 swivels, and laden with treasure, arms, ammunition, and salt provisions. He next, in March, 1814, co-operated with the force under Rear-Admiral Chas. Vinicombe Penrose in forcing the passage of the Gironde. Attaining Post-rank on 7 June in the same year, he was afterwards employed in command of the Blossom 24, and Doris frigate, on the South American station. He accepted the Retirement 1 Oct. 1846.
Capt. Harcourt married Martha, daughter of the late Vice-Admiral John Richard Delap Tollemache (grandson of Lionel, third Earl of Dysart), by Lady Elizabeth Stratford, daughter of John, third Earl of Aldborough. H« has issue. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1809, p. 1210.