A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Curtis, Alfred John
CURTIS. (Lieutenant, 1842.)
Alfred John Curtis is youngest son of Timothy Abraham Curtis, Esq., by Margaret Harriet, youngest daughter of the late Young Green, Esq., of Poole, co. Dorset; nephew of the present Sir Wm. Curtis, Bart., and of Capt. Timothy Curtis, R.N. (1826), who died in Oct. 1834; and cousin of Lieut. Geo. Curtis Adams, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy 25 April, 1831; passed his examination 6 Sept. 1837; and served for some time, as Mate, on board the Seringapatam 42, Capt. John Leith, stationed in North America and the West Indies, as also in the North Star 26, Capt. Sir Jas. Everard Home, under whom he appears to have been employed during the campaign in China. He obtained his commission 18 Nov. 1842; and continuing attached to the North Star, on the Indian station, until paid off in the summer of 1846, was mentioned as having served on shore in command, in Jan. of that year, of a division of seamen, and as having made himself otherwise extremely useful during an attack on a pah, belonging to a rebel chief named Kawiti, at Ruapikapika, in New Zealand, which was assaulted and carried in a most gallant manner, after a severe action of nearly four hours.[1] He has been First-Lieutenant, since 19 Dec. 1846, of the Mutine 12, Capt. Robert Tryon, attached to the Channel squadron.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1846, p. 2346.