A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Harrison, John Gustavus
HARRISON. (Commander, 1842. f-p., 19; h-p., 5.)
John Gustavus Harrison, born 19 Nov. 1810, is son of the Rev. Wm. Harrison, Vicar of Fareham, and Prebendary of Winchester Cathedral.
This officer entered the Navy, 13 March, 1823, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Ramillies 74, commanded on the Home station by Capt. Edw. Brace, with whom he was afterwards employed for some time in the West Indies as Midshipman of the Ganges 84. While next attached, from Nov. 1824 until Jan. 1827, to the Boadicea 42, Commodore Sir Jas. Brisbane, we find him serving in the East Indies and participating in many of the operations connected with the Burmese war. He then for a few months joined the Java 52, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Wm. Hall Gage, on the same station; where, until the close of 1829, he further served in the Rainbow 28, Capt. Hon. Henry John Rous, and again in the Java, Capt. Wm. Fairbrother Carroll. In Feb. 1830, immediately on passing his examination, Mr. Harrison was appointed Mate of the Victory 104, flag-ship at Plymouth of Hon. Sir Robt. Stopford. He was next transferred in succession to the St. Vincent 120, and Asia 84, bearing each the flag of Sir Thos. Foley, Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth; and for several months of 1831 he cruized in the Channel on board the Brisk 3, Lieut.-Commander Edw. Harris Butterfield. During the four following years he appears to have been again employed in the East Indies, for twelve months of the time as Acting-Lieutenant, in the Melville 74, flag-ship of Sir John Gore. Being at length promoted (from the Britannia 120, bearing the flag at Portsmouth of Sir Philip Durham) to the rank of Lieutenant, by commission dated 3 April, 1837, he was appointed, on 10 of that month, to the Larne 18, Capt. Patrick John Blake, and again ordered to the East Indies. He afterwards took part in the hostilities on the coast of China, where, in command of the Larne’s pinnace, he contributed, with much credit to himself, to the capture, 7 Jan. 1841, of the enemy’s forts at Chuenpee, and the destruction of 11 powerful junks, forming the flower of the Celestial Navy – a service for which he was recommended to the notice of the Admiralty.[1] Mr. Harrison’s next and last appointment was, 16 Oct. 1841, to the First-Lieutenancy of the Calliope 26, Capt. Augustus Leopold Kuper, in which vessel he shared in the operations of 1842 up the Yang-tse-Kiang. His advancement to the rank he now holds took place on 23 Dec. in the latter year. It was made the reward of his services in China.[2]
Commander Harrison married, first, in 1836, Jane, daughter of the late W. Hindmarch, Esq., of Bishopwearmouth; and, secondly, 19 July, 1843, a daughter of the late J. Pooke, Esq., of Fareham. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.