A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Harris, Robert
HARRIS. (Commander, 1841. f-p., 19; h-p., 6.)
Robert Harris, born 9 July, 1809, is son of Jas. Harris, Esq., of Wittersham Hall, co. Kent; and grandson of Mrs. Trimmer, the authoress.
This officer entered the Navy, 26 Jan. 1822, as a Volunteer, on board the Euryalus 42, Capt. Augustus Wm. Jas. Clifford, and in the course of the year 1824 was employed at the blockade of Algiers. In June, 1825, after having served for a few months in the Algerine 10, Capt. Hon. Montagu Stopford, he joined the Cambrian 48, Capt. Gawen Wm. Hamilton, under whom we find him enacting a part in the battle of Navarin, sharing also in the capture of numerous pirates in the Grecian Archipelago, and ultimately suffering shipwreck during an attack on a nest of those marauders at Carabusa, 31 Jan. 1828. In Jan. 1829, on his return to England, Mr. Harris was received, as Mate, on board the Ferret 10, Capt. Thos. Hastings, through whose agency he soon succeeded in obtaining an appointment to the Royal George yacht, Capts. Geo. Mundy and Lord Adolphus FitzClarence. During the four years his name was borne on the books of that vessel, he appears to have been continuously employed, as officer in charge of a watch, on board the Onyx and Pantaloon tenders, in which vessels he visited South America, the West Indies, and the coasts of Spain and Portugal, was employed in surveying the coast of Ireland, and cruized in the Channel. Attaining the rank of Lieutenant 21 May, 1833, he subsequently joined – 28 Dec. 1833, the Excellent, Capt. Thos. Hastings, gunnery-ship at Portsmouth, where his scientific attainments procured him the highest awardable certificate – and 19 Jan. 1836, the Melville 72, Capts. Peter John Douglas and Hon. Rich. Saunders Dundas, in which ship, bearing the flags for some time of Sir Peter Halkett and Hon. Geo. Elliot, he served for four years as Gunnery-Lieutenant in North America and the West Indies, at the Cape of Good Hope, and on the China coast. While on the latter station, Mr. Harris, besides participating in the capture, 26 Feb. 1841, of the forts at the Boca Tigris, commanded a rocket-boat in the operations against the various defences in the Canton river, between the “First Bar” and Napier’s Fort. He was advanced, in consideration of the action at the Boca Tigris, to the rank of Commander 8 June, 1841. In the following Aug. he was paid off. His last appointment was, 7 Sept. 1844, to the Flying Fish 12, fitting for the coast of Africa, whence he returned in May, 1846.
Commander Harris, who has acquired a knowledge of steam machinery, was employed as a student at the Royal Naval College from Jan. to Dec. 1842. In 1841, on his return from China, he published, under the title of ‘Remarks on Heaving-down a 72-gun Ship,’ an account of the peculiar circumstances which had attended that operation as regarded the Melville, when at Chusan; touching at the same time upon some nautical subjects previously but little noticed. This work attracted the favourable notice of the Admiralty, and was ordered to be supplied to the different seamen’s libraries. Its author married, 10 Jan. 1843, Priscilla Sophia, daughter of Capt. Penruddocke, of the Fusilier Guards, and grand-daughter of the late Chas. Penruddocke, Esq., of Compton Park, M.P. for North Wilts. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.
HARRIS. (Commander, 1841.)
Robert Harris is brother of the late Sir Wm. Cornwallis Harris, a Major in the E.I.Co.’s Engineers (known in the literary world as the author of ‘The Wild Sports of Southern Africa,’ ‘Portraits of the Game and Wild Animals of Southern Africa,’ and ‘The Highlands of Ethiopia’), who received the honour of Knighthood for his diplomatic services at the Court of Shoa, in Abyssinia. Commander Harris was for five years and eight months Gunnery-Lieutenant of the Melville. He has been employed since 1 March, 1848, as Second-Captain in the Ganges 84, Capt. Henry Smith, on particular service.