Admiral John Harrison

In the south choir aisle of Westminster Abbey, above the door into the cloister, is a memorial to Rear Admiral John Harrison. It takes the form of three quatrefoil panels. Application to erect the memorial came from Sir James Marriott. There are two Latin lines which can be translated:

The Lord is my haven and my refuge" and "The Lord shows his wonders in the deep

The inscription reads:

Near lies buried Rear Admiral John Harrison, son of Captain Robert Harrison, who educated him from his infancy in the Navy, having himself served in it forty years: He was Captain of the Namur, the ship of Admiral Sir George Pocock, in several successful engagements with the French fleet, commanded by Mon. D'Ache, in one of which he was wounded. He conducted under the same British admiral the armament against Havannah and brought the fleet and treasure safe to England. In consequence of excessive fatigue soon after his return he lost the use of one side by a paralytic stroke and remained helpless twenty eight years. He was firm in action, prudent in conduct, polished in society, generous and humane in a profession and upon an element where human virtue is of the most rigid kind and human nature most severely tried. His modesty was equal to his virtues. He died the 15th of October 1791 aged 69 years.

His father died in 1745 and his mother was Hannah. John served on the East India station and took part in the expedition to Havana in 1761-2. After his stroke he was retired as a Rear Admiral. He married Margery Croke of Madras and they seem to have had no children.