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Henry Digby (Royal Navy officer)
Encyclopedia
Admiral of the Blue Sir Henry Digby GCB
(20 January 1770 – 19 August 1842) was a senior British naval officer, who served in the French Revolutionary
and Napoleonic Wars
in the Royal Navy
. He commanded HMS Africa
at the Battle of Trafalgar
, manoeuvering her into the French and Spanish fleet against orders, having been instructed by Nelson to avoid battle, fearing Digby's small ship of the line
would be overwhelmed.
, Henry was born in Bath on the 20 January 1770. His father, the Hon. Rev. William Digby, was the younger brother of the sixth Baron Digby
and later became Dean of Durham
and Chaplain Ordinary to King George III. Henry was one of ten children and the oldest of four boys; two of whom, Charles George (1780) and Joseph (1786), also served in the Royal Navy
. The younger, Joseph, later becoming a Vice-Admiral. On the 2nd April 1783, Henry was entered onto the muster roll of HMS Jason then HMS Vestal
from the 1st May till the 6th March 1784 as a captain's servant. After a six week break, on the 16th April he was entered into the books of HMS Royal Charlotte until the end of the year when he finally went to sea aboard the 50-gun HMS Europa and sailed for the West Indies.
and shortly after, to Midshipman
. On the 4th July 1787, after a brief return to England, he was appointed, first to the Janus and then the Salisbury on the North American station. Digby's father died in November 1788 and he returned home but by December he was aboard the sloop Racehorse trying to stop the smuggling trade in the North Sea
. He returned to England once more on the 22nd September 1789 and did not go to sea again until the following August during which time he passed his lieutenant's exam. After a short probationary period aboard HMS Bellerophon
, he was confirmed as Fourth Lieutenant of the Lion
in October 1790. Returning from the West Indies in September 1791, Digby spent a year and eight months in England dealing with family affairs, following the death of his mother.
On the 5th May 1793, Digby was appointed First Lieutenant of HMS Eurydice
serving in the Channel Squadron, and from there to the Proserpine
on the 16th February 1794. Appointed Second Lieutenant to the 5th rate HMS Pallas on the 25th March, he received a commendation for saving hundreds of lives when, on the 1st May 1795, the first-rate
HMS Boyne
caught fire and exploded in Spithead
. Digby took a small boat close into the blazing ship to rescue men struggling in the water despite the risk of instant annihilation should the ammunition store catch alight, as happened later that day. Shortly after, on the 20th May 1795, Digby joined HMS Dictator
as First Lieutenant and stayed with her until he was promoted in August that year.
. In these first two commands, Digby took 57 enemy vessels before transferring to HMS Leviathan
under Commodore John Duckworth and was present at the capture of Minorca
in November 1798. In 1799 he was given a lucrative independent cruise in the frigate HMS Alcmene
. Patrolling the waters in and around Portugal and the Azores, Digby captured dozens of small merchant ships and a 28 gun French privateer, Courageux.
and HMS Ethalion
were chasing two 34 gun Spanish frigates, Santa Brigada and Thetis. Digby's ship joined the pursuit and soon after a fourth frigate arrived. At 7.00am the two Spaniards parted company so Naiad followed one frigate, together with and the newly arrived , while Ethalion, set after the other frigate. By 11.30am, Ethalion had caught up with her quarry and after a short engagement the Spanish vessel struck her colours. Ethalion had no casualties though the Spaniard had one man killed and nine wounded. Triton, the fastest of the three British frigates, led the chase of the second frigate. The next morning Triton struck some rocks off Muros
as she tried to prevent her quarry from reaching port. Triton got off the rocks and resumed the chase despite taking on water. She and Alcmene then exchanged fire with the Spanish frigate, which surrendered before Naiad could catch up.
The Santa Brigidas cargo included 1,400,000 Pieces of Eight
and Digby's share of the prize fund came to £40,731, not including the ship itself which wasn't purchased. This was more than twice the total prize money Digby had thus far accrued in his career (around £20,000).
trade of the English Channel
, but in 1803 he was given HMS Africa, an old, small battleship which possessed just 64 guns and was considered by many as much too small to serve in the line of battle in a major fleet engagement.
The Africa was also a poor sailor, and on the morning of the 21 October 1805, Digby found his ship had been blown far off station to the north and was thus very isolated. Nelson saw the predicament and sent a signal instructing Digby to "Make all sail", intending him to pull back from the enemy rather than risk being overwhelmed as there were ten enemy ships between Africa and the British fleet, all larger than Africa in size.
Digby indignantly received the order and then deliberately misinterpreted it as an instruction to close with the British fleet to the south, and so weaved between the advancing enemy, engaging each in turn with both broadsides before reaching the melee surrounding the enormous Spanish flagship, the 130 gun Santissima Trinidad. Believing that she had surrendered, Digby dispatched his first lieutenant, John Smith, on board to take the surrender. Smith and his party actually reached the Spanish quarterdeck unmolested before realising that the ship was still fighting. Fortunately in that chivalrous age the Spanish admiral allowed Smith's party to return to their boat unharmed. Sailing south from the battle, Africa encountered the Intrépide
and fought her continuously for 40 minutes until HMS Orion
arrived and the French ship surrendered as she was outnumbered. In this fight Africa was very badly damaged and lost 62 men killed or wounded, including most of her officers.
The damage suffered by the Africa was highlighted in March 2006 when the BBC
television programme Antiques Roadshow
examined a book that was extensively damaged by a cannonball
. Digby's inscription inside read ... this book was shivered in this manner by a whole shot, knocking to pieces the bookcase ... off Cape Trafalgar on 21st October 1805 ... on board the 'Africa' (64 guns). signed Henry Digby.
Some 10 years after the battle, Digby received some criticisms for his actions. On hearing a rumour that Nelson had disapproved of Digby's behaviour at Trafalgar, Hardy wrote: ".....I beg to assure you that Lord Nelson expressed great satisfaction at the gallant manner in which you passed the enemy's line; and I assure you he appeared most fully satisfied with the conduct of the Africa. I shall be most happy personally to contradict the report, if you will inform me of the Captain's name who conveyed it to you".
for many years, making Rear Admiral in 1819 and receiving the Order of the Bath
in 1815. Retiring with his family to Minterne Magna
in Dorset.
His wife was Lady Jane Elizabeth Digby, née Coke, a renowned beauty, and daughter of Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester
. The estate, Minterne Magna, was inherited, but his vast prize money
successes in the 1790s paid for a large manor and a very comfortable life.
Advancing by seniority through the ranks, Digby was appointed Commander-in-Chief, The Nore in 1840. He served as High Sheriff of Dorset
in 1835.
He died in 1842 and was buried in the local churchyard with many of his family, where his tombstone can still be seen. At the time of his death he was a full Admiral of the Blue and had become a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
was born in 1806. His daughter, the adventurous Jane Digby, was born in 1807.
His great great granddaughter was the 20th century socialite and diplomat Pamela Harriman
who grew up at Minterne Magna.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(20 January 1770 – 19 August 1842) was a senior British naval officer, who served in the French Revolutionary
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
and Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. He commanded HMS Africa
HMS Africa (1781)
HMS Africa was a 64-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched by Barnard at Deptford on 11 April 1781.-American War of Independence:...
at the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
, manoeuvering her into the French and Spanish fleet against orders, having been instructed by Nelson to avoid battle, fearing Digby's small ship of the line
Ship of the line
A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th through the mid-19th century to take part in the naval tactic known as the line of battle, in which two columns of opposing warships would manoeuvre to bring the greatest weight of broadside guns to bear...
would be overwhelmed.
Early life
The nephew of Robert DigbyRobert Digby (Royal Navy officer)
Admiral Robert Digby was an officer in the Royal Navy officer who also served briefly as an Member of Parliament .- Naval career :...
, Henry was born in Bath on the 20 January 1770. His father, the Hon. Rev. William Digby, was the younger brother of the sixth Baron Digby
Baron Digby
Baron Digby, of Geashill in the King's County, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1620 for Robert Digby, Governor of King's County. He was the nephew of John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol. Lord Digby's grandson, the third Baron, and the latter's younger brothers the fourth and...
and later became Dean of Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
and Chaplain Ordinary to King George III. Henry was one of ten children and the oldest of four boys; two of whom, Charles George (1780) and Joseph (1786), also served in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. The younger, Joseph, later becoming a Vice-Admiral. On the 2nd April 1783, Henry was entered onto the muster roll of HMS Jason then HMS Vestal
HMS Vestal (1779)
HMS Vestal was a 28-gun Enterprise-class sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. The Vestal was first commissioned in November 1779 under the command of Captain George Keppel.- References :...
from the 1st May till the 6th March 1784 as a captain's servant. After a six week break, on the 16th April he was entered into the books of HMS Royal Charlotte until the end of the year when he finally went to sea aboard the 50-gun HMS Europa and sailed for the West Indies.
Naval career
Digby was to spend the next two and half years aboard the Europa. He was almost immediately promoted from Captain's servant to Able SeamanAble Seaman (rank)
In the British Royal Navy in the middle of the 18th century, the term able seaman referred to a seaman with at least two years' experience at sea...
and shortly after, to Midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
. On the 4th July 1787, after a brief return to England, he was appointed, first to the Janus and then the Salisbury on the North American station. Digby's father died in November 1788 and he returned home but by December he was aboard the sloop Racehorse trying to stop the smuggling trade in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. He returned to England once more on the 22nd September 1789 and did not go to sea again until the following August during which time he passed his lieutenant's exam. After a short probationary period aboard HMS Bellerophon
HMS Bellerophon (1786)
The first HMS Bellerophon of the Royal Navy was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line launched on 6 October 1786 at Frindsbury on the River Medway, near Chatham. She was built at the shipyard of Edward Greaves to the specifications of the Arrogant, designed by Sir Thomas Slade in 1758, the lead ship...
, he was confirmed as Fourth Lieutenant of the Lion
HMS Lion (1777)
HMS Lion was a 64-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, of the Worcester class, launched on 3 September 1777 at Portsmouth Dockyard....
in October 1790. Returning from the West Indies in September 1791, Digby spent a year and eight months in England dealing with family affairs, following the death of his mother.
On the 5th May 1793, Digby was appointed First Lieutenant of HMS Eurydice
HMS Eurydice (1781)
HMS Eurydice was a 24-gun Porcupine-class post ship of the Royal Navy built in 1781 and broken up in 1834. During her long career she saw service in the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars...
serving in the Channel Squadron, and from there to the Proserpine
HMS Proserpine (1777)
HMS Proserpine was a 28-gun Enterprise-class sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. The Proserpine was first commissioned in July 1777 under the command of Captain Evelyn Sutton.- References :...
on the 16th February 1794. Appointed Second Lieutenant to the 5th rate HMS Pallas on the 25th March, he received a commendation for saving hundreds of lives when, on the 1st May 1795, the first-rate
First-rate
First rate was the designation used by the Royal Navy for its largest ships of the line. While the size and establishment of guns and men changed over the 250 years that the rating system held sway, from the early years of the eighteenth century the first rates comprised those ships mounting 100...
HMS Boyne
HMS Boyne
Six ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Boyne after the Battle of the Boyne, 1690. was an 80-gun second rate. This ship of the line was launched in 1692, rebuilt in 1739 and broken up in 1763. When under the command of Captain Dursley she helped take Gibraltar in 1704. was a 70-gun...
caught fire and exploded in Spithead
Spithead
Spithead is an area of the Solent and a roadstead off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds, except those from the southeast...
. Digby took a small boat close into the blazing ship to rescue men struggling in the water despite the risk of instant annihilation should the ammunition store catch alight, as happened later that day. Shortly after, on the 20th May 1795, Digby joined HMS Dictator
HMS Dictator (1783)
HMS Dictator was a 64-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 6 January 1783 at Limehouse. She was converted into a troopship in 1798, and broken up in 1817....
as First Lieutenant and stayed with her until he was promoted in August that year.
First commands
On the 11th August 1795, Digby was promoted to commander of the 16 gun fireship, HMS Incendiary. On the 16 December 1796 he made Post Captain and was appointed to the 6th rate, 28 gun, AuroraHMS Aurora (1777)
HMS Aurora was a 28-gun Enterprise-class sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. The Aurora was first commissioned in July 1777 under the command of Captain James Cumming...
. In these first two commands, Digby took 57 enemy vessels before transferring to HMS Leviathan
HMS Leviathan (1790)
HMS Leviathan was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 9 October 1790. At the Battle of Trafalgar under Henry William Bayntun, she was near the front of the windward column led by Admiral Lord Nelson aboard his flagship, , and captured the Spanish ship San Augustin.In...
under Commodore John Duckworth and was present at the capture of Minorca
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
in November 1798. In 1799 he was given a lucrative independent cruise in the frigate HMS Alcmene
HMS Alcmene (1794)
HMS Alcmene was a 32-gun Alcmene-class fifth rate of the Royal Navy. This frigate served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars under the command of several notable officers. Alcmene was active in several theatres of the war, spending most of her time cruising in search of enemy...
. Patrolling the waters in and around Portugal and the Azores, Digby captured dozens of small merchant ships and a 28 gun French privateer, Courageux.
Capture of the Santa Brigida
Digby claimed that a dream caused him to change course and as a result, at dawn on the 16 October 1799, the Alcmene encountered two British frigates. HMS NaiadHMS Naiad (1797)
HMS Naiad was a Royal Navy fifth-rate frigate that served in the Napoleonic Wars. She was built by Hall and Co. at Limehouse on the Thames, launched in 1797 and commissioned in 1798. She served in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and her last actions occurred in 1824-5. She was paid...
and HMS Ethalion
HMS Ethalion (1797)
HMS Ethalion was a 38-gun Artois-class fifth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. She was built by Joseph Graham of Harwich and launched on 14 March 1797...
were chasing two 34 gun Spanish frigates, Santa Brigada and Thetis. Digby's ship joined the pursuit and soon after a fourth frigate arrived. At 7.00am the two Spaniards parted company so Naiad followed one frigate, together with and the newly arrived , while Ethalion, set after the other frigate. By 11.30am, Ethalion had caught up with her quarry and after a short engagement the Spanish vessel struck her colours. Ethalion had no casualties though the Spaniard had one man killed and nine wounded. Triton, the fastest of the three British frigates, led the chase of the second frigate. The next morning Triton struck some rocks off Muros
Muros, A Coruña
Muros is a municipality in the Spanish province of A Coruña. It has a population of 10156 and an area of 73 km².The town of Muros is an old harbour town whose traditional economy, like that of most harbour towns, is based on fishing.After surviving a city-planning boom from the 60's and 70's...
as she tried to prevent her quarry from reaching port. Triton got off the rocks and resumed the chase despite taking on water. She and Alcmene then exchanged fire with the Spanish frigate, which surrendered before Naiad could catch up.
The Santa Brigidas cargo included 1,400,000 Pieces of Eight
Spanish dollar
The Spanish dollar is a silver coin, of approximately 38 mm diameter, worth eight reales, that was minted in the Spanish Empire after a Spanish currency reform in 1497. Its purpose was to correspond to the German thaler...
and Digby's share of the prize fund came to £40,731, not including the ship itself which wasn't purchased. This was more than twice the total prize money Digby had thus far accrued in his career (around £20,000).
Peace
Digby returned to England in early 1801 and spent 10 weeks on half pay. In May he took command of HMS Resistance, on the North American station, in which he captured the French privateer Elizabeth, the last capture before the Peace of Amiens. Unlike most officers, Digby remained on active service during the peace, making a great dent in the smugglingSmuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
trade of the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
, but in 1803 he was given HMS Africa, an old, small battleship which possessed just 64 guns and was considered by many as much too small to serve in the line of battle in a major fleet engagement.
Trafalgar
Digby indignantly received the order and then deliberately misinterpreted it as an instruction to close with the British fleet to the south, and so weaved between the advancing enemy, engaging each in turn with both broadsides before reaching the melee surrounding the enormous Spanish flagship, the 130 gun Santissima Trinidad. Believing that she had surrendered, Digby dispatched his first lieutenant, John Smith, on board to take the surrender. Smith and his party actually reached the Spanish quarterdeck unmolested before realising that the ship was still fighting. Fortunately in that chivalrous age the Spanish admiral allowed Smith's party to return to their boat unharmed. Sailing south from the battle, Africa encountered the Intrépide
French ship Intrépide
Intrépide was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the French navy. She was originally built at Ferrol, Spain in 1799 as the Spanish ship of the line Intrepido, and later was sold to France in 1800....
and fought her continuously for 40 minutes until HMS Orion
HMS Orion (1787)
HMS Orion was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford on 1 June 1787 to the design of the , by William Bately...
arrived and the French ship surrendered as she was outnumbered. In this fight Africa was very badly damaged and lost 62 men killed or wounded, including most of her officers.
The damage suffered by the Africa was highlighted in March 2006 when the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television programme Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow is a British television show in which antiques appraisers travel to various regions of the United Kingdom to appraise antiques brought in by local people. It has been running since 1979...
examined a book that was extensively damaged by a cannonball
Round shot
Round shot is a solid projectile without explosive charge, fired from a cannon. As the name implies, round shot is spherical; its diameter is slightly less than the bore of the gun it is fired from.Round shot was made in early times from dressed stone, but by the 17th century, from iron...
. Digby's inscription inside read ... this book was shivered in this manner by a whole shot, knocking to pieces the bookcase ... off Cape Trafalgar on 21st October 1805 ... on board the 'Africa' (64 guns). signed Henry Digby.
Some 10 years after the battle, Digby received some criticisms for his actions. On hearing a rumour that Nelson had disapproved of Digby's behaviour at Trafalgar, Hardy wrote: ".....I beg to assure you that Lord Nelson expressed great satisfaction at the gallant manner in which you passed the enemy's line; and I assure you he appeared most fully satisfied with the conduct of the Africa. I shall be most happy personally to contradict the report, if you will inform me of the Captain's name who conveyed it to you".
Later life
Digby continued in the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
for many years, making Rear Admiral in 1819 and receiving the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 1815. Retiring with his family to Minterne Magna
Minterne Magna
Minterne Magna is a village in west Dorset, England, situated at the source of the River Cerne in the Dorset Downs, on the A352 main road half way between Dorchester and Sherborne. The village has a population of 188 .-Minterne House:...
in Dorset.
His wife was Lady Jane Elizabeth Digby, née Coke, a renowned beauty, and daughter of Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester
Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester (seventh creation)
Thomas William Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester , known as Coke of Norfolk, was a British politician and agricultural reformer. Born to Wenman Coke, Member of Parliament for Derby and his wife Elizabeth, Coke was educated at several schools, including Eton College, before undertaking a Grand Tour of...
. The estate, Minterne Magna, was inherited, but his vast prize money
Prize money
Prize money has a distinct meaning in warfare, especially naval warfare, where it was a monetary reward paid out to the crew of a ship for capturing an enemy vessel...
successes in the 1790s paid for a large manor and a very comfortable life.
Advancing by seniority through the ranks, Digby was appointed Commander-in-Chief, The Nore in 1840. He served as High Sheriff of Dorset
High Sheriff of Dorset
The High Sheriff of Dorset is an ancient High Sheriff title which has been in existence for over one thousand years. The position was once a powerful position responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing law and order in Dorset. In modern times the sheriff has become a ceremonial role, presiding...
in 1835.
He died in 1842 and was buried in the local churchyard with many of his family, where his tombstone can still be seen. At the time of his death he was a full Admiral of the Blue and had become a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Descendents
His son, Edward Digby, 9th Baron DigbyEdward Digby, 9th Baron Digby
Edward St Vincent Digby, 9th Baron Digby , also 3rd Baron Digby in the Peerage of Great Britain, was a British peer.-Biography:...
was born in 1806. His daughter, the adventurous Jane Digby, was born in 1807.
His great great granddaughter was the 20th century socialite and diplomat Pamela Harriman
Pamela Harriman
Pamela Beryl Harriman , also known as Pamela Churchill Harriman, was an English-born socialite who was married and linked to important and powerful men. In later life, she became a political activist for the United States Democratic Party and a diplomat...
who grew up at Minterne Magna.