Octavius Vernon Harcourt
Encyclopedia
Octavius Henry Cyril Vernon Harcourt (1793–1863) was a British naval officer. He was the eighth son of Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt, Archbishop of York
, and was born Octavius Henry Cyril Vernon at Rose Castle
, Cumberland
on 25 December 1793. On 15 January 1831, succeeding to the properties of William Harcourt, 3rd Earl Harcourt
, the father's cousin, the family assumed the additional surname of Harcourt.
in August 1806 as midshipman
on board the Tigre of 74 guns, and in her in the following year witnessed the surrender of Alexandria
, and was employed in boat service up the Nile
. After assisting at the Siege of Toulon
, he was transferred into the Malta of 80 guns, and co-operated with the troops on the south-east coast of Spain
, and served in the batteries at the siege of Tarragona
. Becoming a lieutenant 11 January 1814, he joined the Mulgrave of 74 guns, and landing with the seamen and marines near Piombo captured a Martello tower
and brought out a convoy which was anchored under its protection.
In the Amelia of 38 guns in 1814 he served at the blockade of Elba
. He was on half-pay from 1816 until 2 Feb. 1818, when he was appointed to the Sir Francis Drake, the flagship at Newfoundland
, where on 3 Feb. 1820 he obtained the command of the Drake sloop, and for a short time in the same year of the Carnation of 18 guns. From 1824 to 1827 he served in the West Indies. He was promoted to be captain 7 July 1827. His last appointment was to the North Star of 28 guns, in which vessel he surveyed the coast of Central America
and California
, 1834–6.
for 1849, and was appointed a vice-admiral on half-pay 4 June 1861. He built at his own expense and endowed a church at Healey
, near Masham
in North Yorkshire, another church at Brent Tor
, Devon
shire, and restored the parish church of Masham. In 1858 he erected in Masham six almshouses which he endowed with £1,775 three per cent Consols
.
He died at Swinton Park, Yorkshire, 14 Aug. 1863.
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
, and was born Octavius Henry Cyril Vernon at Rose Castle
Rose Castle
Rose Castle is a fortified house in Cumbria, England, on a site that was home to the bishops of Carlisle from 1230 to 2009. It is within the parish of Dalston, from Dalston itself...
, Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
on 25 December 1793. On 15 January 1831, succeeding to the properties of William Harcourt, 3rd Earl Harcourt
William Harcourt, 3rd Earl Harcourt
Field Marshal William Harcourt, 3rd Earl Harcourt, of Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, GCB was a British nobleman and soldier. He was the younger son of Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt.-Seven Years War:...
, the father's cousin, the family assumed the additional surname of Harcourt.
Naval career
He entered the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in August 1806 as midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
on board the Tigre of 74 guns, and in her in the following year witnessed the surrender of Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, and was employed in boat service up the Nile
Nile
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in North Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. It is long. It runs through the ten countries of Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt.The Nile has two major...
. After assisting at the Siege of Toulon
Siege of Toulon
The Siege of Toulon was an early Republican victory over a Royalist rebellion in the Southern French city of Toulon. It is also often known as the Fall of Toulon.-Context:...
, he was transferred into the Malta of 80 guns, and co-operated with the troops on the south-east coast of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and served in the batteries at the siege of Tarragona
Tarragona
Tarragona is a city located in the south of Catalonia on the north-east of Spain, by the Mediterranean. It is the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the capital of the Catalan comarca Tarragonès. In the medieval and modern times it was the capital of the Vegueria of Tarragona...
. Becoming a lieutenant 11 January 1814, he joined the Mulgrave of 74 guns, and landing with the seamen and marines near Piombo captured a Martello tower
Martello tower
Martello towers are small defensive forts built in several countries of the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the Napoleonic Wars onwards....
and brought out a convoy which was anchored under its protection.
In the Amelia of 38 guns in 1814 he served at the blockade of Elba
Elba
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia...
. He was on half-pay from 1816 until 2 Feb. 1818, when he was appointed to the Sir Francis Drake, the flagship at Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, where on 3 Feb. 1820 he obtained the command of the Drake sloop, and for a short time in the same year of the Carnation of 18 guns. From 1824 to 1827 he served in the West Indies. He was promoted to be captain 7 July 1827. His last appointment was to the North Star of 28 guns, in which vessel he surveyed the coast of Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, 1834–6.
Charitable works
He was appointed High Sheriff of YorkshireHigh Sheriff of Yorkshire
The High Sheriff of Yorkshire was an ancient High Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years. A list of the sheriffs from the Norman conquest onwards can be found below...
for 1849, and was appointed a vice-admiral on half-pay 4 June 1861. He built at his own expense and endowed a church at Healey
Healey, North Yorkshire
Healey is a small village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated to the immediate west of Fearby and is near Leighton and Leighton Reservoir. It is about three miles west of Masham....
, near Masham
Masham
Masham is a small market town and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 1,235. Situated in Wensleydale on the western bank of the River Ure, the name derives from the Anglo-Saxon "Mæssa's Ham", the homestead belonging to Mæssa. The Romans had...
in North Yorkshire, another church at Brent Tor
Brent Tor
Brent Tor is a tor on the western edge of Dartmoor, approximately five miles north of Tavistock, rising to 1100ft above sea level. The Tor is surmounted by the Church of St Michael, the parish church of the village of Brentor, which lies below the Tor.-Geology:Brent Tor is a unique example of an...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
shire, and restored the parish church of Masham. In 1858 he erected in Masham six almshouses which he endowed with £1,775 three per cent Consols
Consols
Consol is a form of British government bond , dating originally from the 18th century. The first consols were originally issued in 1751...
.
Marriage and death
He married, 22 Feb. 1838, Anne Holwell, second daughter of William Gater, and widow of William Danby of Swinton Park. She died on 26 June 1879, devising her Yorkshire estates to George, fifth son of Sir Robert Affleck, bart.He died at Swinton Park, Yorkshire, 14 Aug. 1863.