England Harness' were friends and confidantes of Nobility and Literary greats

The following material on Dr. John Harness and his son William, is based on information in "Records of a Friendship" by Carolina M. Duncan-Jones of London, published in 1955. It was provided to us by Gerald Harness. These Harness' are not related in any way to the family that is the main subject of this website.

Dr. John Harness

Dr. John Harness was Commissioner of Transports in England in the late 1700's. He and his wife and 5 children lived in the village of Wickham of Hampshire. Dr. Harness was a naval surgeon. He was a close friend of Lord Nelson, one of England's greatest naval heroes. (Lord Nelson's brilliant victories during the Napoleonic wars averted the growing threat of French naval power and saved England from invasion).

Perhaps in part as a result of his friendship with Lord Nelson (although that is not all that clear) Dr. John Harness was appointed Physician of the Fleet. But his place in history is probably his discovery of a cure for scurvy using citric acid. As a result of that discovery, all British warships thereafter carried a supply of limes.

And that is how Brits got the nickname "limeys."

William Harness

One of Dr. John Harness' sons, William, was a boyhood friend of Lord Byron, the famed British poet. William Harness became an ordained minister and at his father's urging, moved to London where he established himself as a popular minister at Regent Square Chapel (for 18 years) and later as First Vicar of All Saints Church (for 22 years).

William Harness never married. He lived with his sister, Mary (who also never married). She was Lord Nelson's God-daughter. William and his sister were life-long companions.

Charles Dickens, one of England's best known authors ("A Christmas Carol", "David Copperfield", "A Tale of Two Cities", "The Pickwick Papers"), was a close friend of William Harness. When William died at the age of 79 (he fell down some steps in the Deanery of Battle), Charles Dickens wrote this note to William's sister, Mary:

My dear Miss Harness, I hope that I may not intrude upon your grief, by sending you my poor word of loving remembrance of one of the very best of men. I can think of none so hopeless of replacement. Dear good gentle noble heart! God be with you all--as He will--in your afflictions. So prays your affectionate and mourning friend, Charles Dickens.

Another of Dr. John Harness' sons became a distinguished British soldier, and was knighted. He was General Sir Henry Harness.