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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Morris, John Row

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1845360A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Morris, John RowWilliam Richard O'Byrne

MORRIS. (Commander, 1814. f-p., 37; h-p., 23.)

John Row Morris is brother of Rear-Admiral Geo. Morris.

This officer entered the Navy, in April, 1787, as Ordinary, on board the Narcissus frigate, Capts. Philip D’Auvergne, John Salisbury, and Paul Minchin, stationed in the Channel; where, from Aug. 1791 until Jan. 1795, he served, as Midshipman, in the Alfred 74, Capt. John Bazely, and was afforded an opportunity of sharing in the action of 1 June, 1794. After a brief attachment to the Sandwich 90, Capt. Jas. Robt. Mosse, he was promoted, 20 May, 1795, to a Lieutenancy in the Scourge sloop, Capt. Wm. Stapp, stationed in the North Sea. His succeeding appointments were – 21 Sept. 1795, to the Doris 36, Capt. Lord Ranelagh, employed off the coast of Ireland – 16 Aug. 1797, to the St. Albans 64, Capts. Fras. Pender and John Okes Hardy, with whom he served on the Halifax and West India stations until June, 1801 – 14 March, 1803, to the Raisonnable 64, Capt. Wm. Hotham, attached to the force in the North Sea – and 19 Oct. 1803, and (after five months of half-pay) 24 April, 1810, to the command of the Insolent gun-brig and Pioneer schooner, on the Home and Mediterranean stations. In the Insolent he assisted at the destruction of the French shipping in Basque Roads in April, 1809, and in the Pioneer he contributed, in company with the Decoy cutter, to the capture, 9 May, 1812, of the Infatigable French lugger-privateer, of 29 men, 10 of whom (including their Commander) were killed and wounded.[1] He attained the rank he now holds 15 June, 1814; and was lastly, from 31 Dec. 1820 until the spring of 1832, employed as an Inspecting-Commander in the Coast Guard. Agent – Fred. Dufaur.


  1. Vide Gaz. 1812, p. 888.