Francis was born in Edinburgh on 8 September 1822[1] to Thomas Shortt[1], a military physician, and his wife Henrietta Young[1]. Francis was baptized in St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh on 5 Nov 1822[1].
He enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1836[2]. He saw active service as Midshipman in HMS Cambridge during the Autumn 1840 campaign off Syria and Egypt. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in Jan 1843, having submitted the best examination within his cohort at the Royal Naval College[3].
Before and after his promotion he served for a period in the gunnery training ship HMS Excellent permanently moored at Portsmouth, commanded by Captain Sir Thomas Hastings (later Admiral).[4].
From February 1844 until paid off at the end of 1847[4], he served in the Pacific, then in the Channel, and off the coast of Portugal, in HMS America[4], commanded by Captain Hon. John Gordon[4] and then by Sir Thomas Maitland[4].
In 1848 he was a Lieutenant in HMS Powerful under Captain Hon. Richard Saunders Dundas[4].
He was promoted to the rank of Commander in Jan 1854, and in Jan 1855 took his first command, of HMS Spiteful, a paddle steamer sloop in operations in the Mediterranean Sea, until it was paid off in May 1857.
In 1858 he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and he married Emily de Sausmarez[5][6].
He returned to sea briefly in March 1864 in command of HMS Gladiator for a particular service, but apart from this had almost eight years' ashore in Guernsey on half-pay. During this time he and Emily grew their family:
Between Feb 1866 and Nov 1867 he was in command of HMS Favorite in North America and the West Indies[3].
From Sep 1870 to Aug 1873 he was Commodore in charge of the Hong Kong base, in HMS Princess Charlotte[3]. Returning to England the following year he retired from active service and joined the Retired List[3]. He was subsequently promoted to Rear Admiral in 1875 and finally Vice Admiral in 1880.
He died aged 59 at St Peter Port, Guernsey on 28 October 1881 after a protracted illness[7].
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Categories: St Peter Port, Guernsey | Edinburgh, Scotland | Royal Navy Officers