Barrington The Hon Samuel

Barrington, The Hon. Samuel, fifth son of the first Lord Barrington, was born in 1729, and entered the navy in 1710. He attained the rank of captain in 1747, when little more than eighteen, and in command of the Bellona, 30, distinguished himself on Aug. 18th of that year by his action with and capture of the French East Indiaman, Duc de Chartres, 30. Later he was honourably concerned in the rescue of many British subjects from slavery in Morocco. In 1757 he took part in the futile expedition against Rochefort, and cruising afterwards in the Channel in the Achilles, 60, captured the St. Florentine of equal force. In 1761 Captain Barrington greatly signalised himself during Commodore Keppel's expedition against Belleisle. In 1768 he was appointed to the Venus, 36, and was entrusted for a season with the professional training of the Duke of Cumberland, one of George the Third's brothers. In 1777, in the Prince of Wales, 74, he made some prizes in the Channel, but being promoted early in the following year to flag-rank, proceeded to the West Indies. There, on Dec. 15th, he was attacked off St. Lucia by the Comte d'Estaing, whom twice on that day he drove back. Finally, though of greatly superior force, the enemy drew off, leaving the island to capitulate to the British. He commanded the van in Vice-Admiral Byron's action with D'Estaing off Grenada, on July 6th, 1779, and was wounded. Advanced in 1780 to the rank of vice-admiral, he in 1782 took command of the Channel fleet, and on April 13th met a French convoy and captured a 74, a 64, and twelve smaller vessels. In the autumn he sailed under Lord Howe as second in command and assisted in the famous relief of Gibraltar and in the partial action of Oct. 20th. He became ar admiral in 1787, and in 1799 General of Marines He died in 1800.