A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Harley, Edward
HARLEY. (Retired Commander, 1837. f-p., 26; h-p., 39.)
Edward Harley died in Aug. 1846, in the 71st year of his age.
This officer entered the Navy, in 1781, as A.B., on board the Warspite 74, Capt. John Reynolds, lying at Portsmouth, where, in the following year and in 1785-6, he became Midshipman of the Diligente and Queen, flag-ships of Sir Thos. Pye and Admiral Montagu, and Hector, Capt. Sir John Collins. Between 1787 and Nov. 1794, he was employed, on the West India and Home stations, as Midshipman, in the Alert, Capt. Geo. Burden, Active, Capt. Peter Rainier, Vanguard and Bedford, both commanded by Sir Andrew Snape Hamond, and Duke, Glory, and Resolution, bearing each the broad pendant of Commodore Geo. Murray. He was then appointed Acting-Lieutenant of the Thisbe, Capt. John Okes Hardy, on the Halifax station, and in Jan. 1795 he removed in a similar capacity to L’Espérance sloop, Capt. Jonas Rose, also employed off the coast of America. Being confirmed in the latter vessel by commission dated 8 Oct. 1796, Mr. Harley was subsequently appointed – in Jan. 1798, to the Isis 50, Capt. Wm. Mitchell, with whom he made a voyage to St. Helena – 1 Aug. 1799, to the Andromache frigate, Capt. Sir Robt. Laurie, employed, until Feb. 1804, on the North American and Jamaica stations – 14 Oct. 1807, to the Centurion 50, Capt. Chas. Webb, in which ship he proceeded to Gibraltar – 2 June, 1808, to the Gorgon 44, Capt. Robt. Brown Tom, successively stationed at Woolwich and the Nore – and, 9 July, 1808, to the command of the Ildefonso, at Spithead. He went on half-pay in July, 1814; and became a Retired Commander on the Junior List 26 Nov. 1830. His promotion to the Senior List took place 26 Dec. 1837. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.