John Harvey Stevens

Major General John Harvey Stevens was a career officer in the Royal Marines. His father John Stevens had been a commander in the Royal Navy. He was the youngest of three brothers (Thomas,[1] Cornelius, John), all of whom were to serve as captains in the Royal Marines. His older brother Cornelius was killed in action during the Battle of Navarino.[2][3]

John Harvey Stevens
Died1866
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Marines
RankMajor General
Battles/warsNapoleonic Wars War of 1812
Bombardment of Algiers
AwardsMentioned in Despatches

Biography

Stevens served during the Napoleonic Wars in the Caribbean during 1806–7, participated in the Walcheren Campaign, and in the Iberian peninsula during 1810–11. He commanded one of the two Rocket detachments,[4] which accompanied two companies of artillery which supported the 1st and 2nd Battalions, Royal Marines to North America in 1813 to fight the War of 1812. As part of Sir George Cockburn's, he participated, in the Battle of Craney Island, and the attacks on Hampton, Virginia and Ocracoke Island.

The brigade of Royal Marine Artillery served in Canada during 1814, and he was mentioned in Lieutenant General Sir Gordon Drummond's despatches for his conduct during the Battle of Fort Oswego (1814).[5] He was present at the Siege of Fort Erie, and was subsequently employed on improving the defences at Chippawa Creek, where an impending attack by numerically superior enemy forces was anticipated.[6]

He was present during the Bombardment of Algiers in 1816.[7] During the 1830s, he became the Superintendent of the Marine Artillery Laboratory, an institution which he encouraged to be established. He died in 1866.

Promotions and awards

References
Citations
  1. Hart's annual army list 1867, Note: Major General Thomas Stevens on pg22
  2. Maritime Memorials
  3. NICOLAS, p308
  4. NICOLAS, p273
  5. NICOLAS, p258
  6. Hart's annual army list 1840, Note: Captain Stevens on pg302 among Corps of Royal Marines (pp292-304)
  7. NICOLAS, p295
  8. Hart's annual army list 1866
Bibliography
  • Paul Harris Nicolas, Historical Record of the Royal Marine Forces, Volume 2, 1805–1842. London, Boone, 1845 – via Google Books
  • Hart's annual army list, militia list, and imperial yeomanry list 1866, London. John Murray – Google Books
  • Hart's annual army list, militia list, and imperial yeomanry list 1867, London. John Murray – Google Books
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