by John Marshall

“ John Chafin Morris entered the royal navy in 1797, under the auspices of the late Admiral Sir Roger Curtis; and served during the remainder of the French revolutionary war as midshipman on board the flag-ships of that distinguished officer and his successor, the late Sir Charles Cotton, in the Channel fleet, off Cadiz, and on the Mediterranean station. In 1802 he joined the Donegal 80, Captain Sir Richard J. Strachan, which ship, on the renewal of hostilities, was employed in watching the motions of a French squadron at Cadiz; off which port she captured the Spanish frigate Amphitrite, Nov. ”

“ His subsequent appointments were, June 21st, 1814, to be first lieutenant of the Prospero sloop, Captain George Greensill; and, in 1820, to the command of the Richmond, revenue cruiser, on the Irish station, where he captured a large smuggling cutter, and by his activity prevented others from landing their cargoes, for his “long and active services,” he was rewarded with a commander’s commission, dated May 27th, 1825. ”

“ This officer’s next appointment was, in 1808, to the Achille 74, Captain Sir Richard King, then employed in the blockade of Ferrol, and subsequently in the expedition to Walcheren. During the occupation of that island, he was entrusted with the command of five gun-boats, and frequently engaged with the enemy. We afterwards find him proceeding in the Achille to Cadiz, where he arrived on the 28th Feb. 1810; and commanded a Spanish gun-vessel, manned by British seamen, and employed in the defence of La-Isla-de-Leon, from Mar. ”