A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Harris, Francis
HARRIS. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 30; h-p., 12.)
Francis Harris is half-brother of Retired Commander John Read Bindon, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 12 July, 1805, as Fst-cl. Vol., on board the Téméraire 98, Capts. Elias Harvey and Sir Chas. Hamilton, in which ship he fought in the ensuing battle of Trafalgar, and (with an exception of 15 months in 1896-7) was afterwards employed, under the flags of Rear- Admirals Manley Dixon and Fras. Pickmore, on the Baltic and Mediterranean stations, and at the defence of Cadiz, until Feb. 1811 – two years and four months of the time as Midshipman. He then joined the Royal Sovereign 100, Capt. Joseph Spear, and on removing to the Unité 36, Capt. Edwin Henry Chamberlayne, assisted at the capture, 31 March, 1811, of the French 80-ton store-ship Dromadaire. On 1 of the following May he was further present in the same frigate, and in company with the Pomone 38, and Scout 18, at the destruction of two vessels of the like description, the Giraffe and Nourrice, each mounting from 20 to 30 guns, and both protected by a 5-gun battery, a martello-tower, and a body of about 200 regular troops; and on 29 Nov. he contributed to the capture, after a severe running-fight of four hours, of the 26-gun store-ship La Persanne, supposed, until the moment of her surrender, to be a frigate. Mr. Harris, who subsequently participated in many boat affairs in the Adriatic, and witnessed the Unité’s capture of three Turkish ships, was transferred, in Oct. 1814, to the Dee 24, Capt. John Wm. Andrew, on the Leith station, and advanced, 1 March, 1815, to the rank of Lieutenant. With one slight interval, he has been continuously employed in the Coast Blockade and Coast Guard since March, 1826.