A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Rorie, John James
RORIE. (Retired Commander, 1842. f-p., 19; h-p., 38.)
John James Rorie entered the Navy, 28 June, 1790, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Echo sloop, and, after serving in that capacity in the Scout, was received, about 1793, on board the Druid 32, Capt. Joseph Ellison, with whom and with Capts. Wm. Lukin, Geo. Burlton, Thos. Revell Shivers, and Thos. Parr, he was employed as Midshipman, from 1795 until 1798, in the Standard 64. In the Druid he assisted at the capture of several of the enemy’s vessels, and was frequently engaged with the batteries along the French coast: in the Standard he fought in Lord Bridport’s action 23 June, 1795, and accompanied Sir John Borlase Warren in the expedition to Quiberon. After cruizing for a short time in the Channel in the Ambuscade 32, Capt. Henry Jenkins, he was made Lieutenant, 4 Dec. 1798, into the Echo 18, Capts. Robt. Philpot, John Serrell, and Edm. Boger, on the West India station; where he removed, as First, in Sept. 1803, to the Shark sloop, bearing the flag of Sir John Thos. Duckworth – obtained command, in Dec. of the same year, of the Papillon 10 – again, in Nov. 1804, joined the Shark – and from Jan. 1805 to Jan. 1809 commanded the Morne Fortunée 10. While attached to the Echo, of which sloop he was for a long period First-Lieutenant, Mr. Rorie contributed to the capture of many French and Spanish vessels, and served in the boats in several cutting-out affairs on the coasts of Puerto Rico and St. Domingo. On one occasion, 15 Oct. 1799, he had charge of the jolly-boat, and aided, in company with the pinnace under Lieut. Chas. Fred. Napier, in taking, in Lagnadille Bay, a Spanish brig, laden with cocoa and indigo, and mounting 2 4-pounders, with 20 men.[1] At another time the bow of the boat he commanded was carried away by a round shot. In the Papillon he made prize of a smuggler; and during his command of the Morne Fortunée he took, among a variety of vessels, consisting in all of 23 sail, the French and Spanish privateers Le Luni of 2 guns and 47 men, L’Aimable Jeannette of 2 guns and 20 men, the Babillon of 2 guns and 45 men, and the Santo Christo of 1 gun and 15 men. He bore an active part too in the operations connected with the memorable reduction of Curaçoa in 1807. In the preceding year he had been contused by the bursting of a gun in an attack upon an enemy’s battery and vessels at Puerto Rico. He became a Retired Commander upon the Junior List 26 Nov. 1830; and upon the Senior 2 July, 1842.
Commander Rorie is married, and has issue four sons and one daughter. Agent – J. Hinxman.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1800, p. 45.