Captain George Alexander Doria HAVILAND
Gunboat Comet, Royal Indian Marine

Date of birth: 22nd August 1851
Date of death: 12th March 1885

Died aged 33
Unknown
George Alexander Doria Haviland was born at Pampisford in Cambridgeshire on the 22nd of August 1851 the third son of the Reverend John Haviland MA, Vicar of Pampisford, and Harriett (nee Doria) Haviland of Ditton Hall, Cambridge. He was christened at Pampisford on the 28th of September 1851.

He was educated at Lancing College from September 1861 to April 1865 where he was in News House.

On leaving school he went on to the Royal Naval College Britannia from the 15th of September 1865 to the 16th of April 1867. He underwent further training at HMS Victory from the 2nd of May 1867 and at HMS Adelaide from the 5th of September 1867.

He was appointed as a Midshipman in the Royal Navy on the 16th of April 1868 and was posted to the shore establishment HMS Alfred on the same day, serving there until the 31st of August 1869. On the 1st of September 1869 he was posted to HMS Duke of Wellington. He was promoted to Sub Lieutenant in on the 11th June 1873 and was posted to the 17 gun cruiser HMS Fawn on the same day and served with her on the Pacific Station until the 19th of March 1875. On the 20th of March he was posted to HMS Excellent for study and in August he went to the Royal Naval College. He was unable to pass the examinations for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant and was discharged from the service on the 25th of May 1876.

He was awarded a Certificate of Competency as a Second Mate on the 6th of July 1876 and transferred to the Royal Indian Marine the same year. He was promoted to First Grade Officer on the 13th of October 1880. In 1882 he served as second in command of the Indian Government Steamer "Knarserim" during the Anglo Egyptian War of 1882 for which he was awarded the Campaign medal.

He died suddenly at Baghdad while in command of the gunboat "Comet"

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