► Royal Navy ► Obituaries
The following obituary for Robert Harris appeared in the Times newspaper.
| Obituary in the Times newspaper | |
| Date | Obituary |
| 19 January 1865 | We have to record the death of Capt. Robert Harris, R.N., which took place at his residence at Southsea, Portsmouth, on the 16th inst. We learn from O’Byrne that the deceased officer entered the Royal Navy in 1822 as a volunteer on board the Euryalus, 42, and in 1824 was employed at the blockade of Algiers. He afterwards served on board the Ferret, the Royal George yacht, and the Onyx and Pantaloon tenders to the yacht. In the Excellent gunnery-ship, as a lieutenant, his scientific acquirements secured him the highest possible certificate. In the Melville, 72, bearing the flags for some time of Admirals Sir Peter Halket and the Hon. George Elliot, Lieut. Harris served for four years as gunnery-lieutenant in North America and the West Indies, on the Cape of Good Hope and China stations, and took part in various military operations. Capt. Harris's last services, however, were the most important in his career, and with them his name must always remain indissolubly connected. This was the organization and introduction into Her Majesty’s service of the naval cadet and boys’ training ship system, a task for the execution of which Capt. Harris was specially selected by the Admiralty. How this arduous task was carried out is best exemplified by a reference to the means placed at Capt. Harris's disposal in the one ship (Illustrious) for the joint scheme at its commencement, and the present admirably arranged Britannia, with a College in prospective, for the naval cadets, and a training ship for boys now in every naval port in the kingdom. For several years he laboured at this duty, and none but his personal friends can know the amount of zeal he brought to bear upon it, or the tact with which he worked out the important plans intrusted to his care. |
Top↑
 |