Samuel Goodall
Encyclopedia
Samuel Granston Goodall (died 21 April 1801) was an officer of the Royal Navy
who saw service during the Seven Years' War
, the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary Wars
in a career that spanned 50 years, rising to the rank of Admiral of the White.
Goodall rose from obscure origins to the rank of lieutenant during the Seven Years' War, and continued to rise through the ranks to command his own ships. He ended the war serving in the West Indies and North America, having seen action at the Battle of Havana, and then returned to Britain. He commanded several ships in the peace before the outbreak of the American War of Independence, when he commanded several ships of the line with the Channel Fleet
. He was with Keppel
at the Battle of Ushant
in 1778, and with Fielding
at the capture of a Dutch convoy
in 1780. Goodall next took part in Darby's
relief of Gibraltar
and the Second Battle of Ushant
in 1781, after which he sailed to the West Indies to join the fleet under Sir George Rodney
.
Several fleet actions followed, and Goodall distinguished himself with service at the Battle of the Saintes
and the subsequent Battle of the Mona Passage
, where he was instrumental in the capture of two French ships of the line. After further service in North America, he returned to Britain on the conclusion of the war. The Spanish armament in 1790 provided a chance for further employment, he commissioned a ship, but stepped down with the passing of the crisis, having been promoted to rear-admiral. A brief posting to the Newfoundland
command came in 1792, but he returned in winter that year just prior to the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars. Flying his flag aboard the 98-gun he served with Lord Hood's
fleet, first as governor of Toulon
during the occupation of that city
, and then as second in command of the Mediterranean Fleet
, under Hood's successor, Admiral William Hotham
. Goodall took part in Hotham's two actions in 1795, the Naval Battle of Genoa
and the Naval Battle of Hyères Islands
, but the nature of the battles prevented any chance of distinguishing himself. Disappointed at not being offered the command of the fleet on Hotham's recall, Goodall struck his flag and retired ashore. He was promoted on the basis of his seniority to admiral of the white, but saw no further active service before his death in 1801.
Duc d'Ayen on 7 August 1760 while she was at anchor off Egersund
, Norway
. The Duc d'Ayen was a dogger
armed with seven 4-pdrs and had a crew of 65 men. Her capture was alleged to have been in violation of Denmark's
neutrality, and Goodall became involved in a lengthy correspondence on the subject.
Goodall was then sent out to the West Indies where on 3 January 1762 he was promoted to the rank of post captain and on 13 January was made commander of the 24-gun . He joined the fleet under Sir George Pocock
and took part in the Battle of Havana. In June he was sent to silence a battery
east of Cojimar
as part of the operations to land troops. He moved to the North American Station
after this, where he assisted in the protection of the trade on the coast of Georgia
before returning to Britain in spring 1764. The draw down of the navy after the Treaty of Paris
ended the Seven Years' War left Goodall ashore on half-pay
. He returned to service in 1769, commissioning the 32-gun in February and sailing to the Mediterranean in May. Goodall was then despatched in the summer of 1770 to protect British interests in Smyrna
.
in time to fight at the Battle of Ushant
on 27 July. Defiance was heavily engaged in the fighting, losing eight men killed and seventeen wounded from her crew. She then joined the squadron under Molyneux Shuldham
in December that year. In 1779 Goodall was appointed to the 74-gun , which he would command for the next four years.
Goodall spent the first three of these serving with the Channel Fleet
, at first under Sir Charles Hardy
, and then from December with Commodore Charles Fielding
's squadron. He was with the squadron on 31 December 1780 when the British force intercepted a Dutch convoy, and Fielding demanded to be allowed to search the ships. Their commander, Lodewijk van Bylandt
refused, and Fielding attacked. After a brief action
the Dutch surrendered and the convoy was taken into Portsmouth
. Goodall then served under successive commanders of the Channel Fleet, firstly Sir Francis Geary
, and then Sir George Darby
. On 4 January 1781, while sailing in company with the 64-gun under Lord Mulgrave
, a squadron of three French frigates was spotted and chased. Two of them escaped, but the third was chased down and engaged in a heavy fight by Courageux, until being forced to surrender. She was the former , which had been captured by the French in 1778. She had sustained losses of 49 killed and 24 wounded, while Courageux had 10 men killed and seven wounded. Minerva was taken back into the Royal Navy under the name HMS Recovery.
by Darby's fleet on 12 April 1781, followed by service in Rear-Admiral Robert Digby's
squadron, before returning to Darby's fleet in summer and autumn 1781. He was present at the Second Battle of Ushant
with Rear-Admiral Richard Kempenfelt
's fleet on 12 December 1781, after which he sailed to the West Indies to join the fleet there under Admiral Sir George Rodney
on 28 February 1782. Goodall was engaged at the first clash with the French fleet under the Comte de Grasse
off Dominica
on 9 April 1782, and again at their decisive defeat at the Battle of the Saintes
on 12 April. In the former engagement Valiant was part of the van, and was heavily involved in the fighting, suffering casualties of 38 men killed and wounded. At the Saintes Valiant was in the rear division and had nine killed and 28 wounded.
After the victory at the Saintes, and during a period of calm weather, Rodney detached a squadron under his second in command, Sir Samuel Hood
, to pursue some of the crippled French ships. Valiant was one of the ships detached with Hood, and on 19 April the squadron caught two ships of the line and three frigates at the entrance to the Mona Passage
. The French force, consisting of the 64-gun ships Caton and Jason
, and the frigates Astree, Aimable and Ceres attempted to escape, Hood signalling for them to be engaged before they could run themselves ashore. In the ensuing Battle of the Mona Passage
, Valiant found herself the headmost ship, and with most of the other British ships becalmed or chasing other ships, Goodall pressed on sail to catch the Caton, and managed to rake her bows, on which she immediately struck
. Goodall did not stop to take possession, but instead pressed on after the fleeing Jason, opening fire on her and fighting a fierce engagement for 45 minutes until the French ship surrendered. Valiant had 12 men killed and wounded in the action.
Goodall sailed in July that year to North America with Admiral Hugh Pigot, stopping at New York
between September and October, and taking part in the blockade of Cape François
in November. He returned to Jamaica
in early 1783, and then departed for Britain in April that year to pay Valiant after the Peace of Paris
brought about the conclusion of the war.
, hoisting his flag aboard the 50-gun . He returned to Britain in the winter, but was soon back on active service with the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars the following year.
, during which time he acted as governor of the city until the arrival from Britain of Sir Gilbert Elliott
. Goodall then took part in the operations against Corsica
, receiving official praise for his efforts from Hood, and a promotion to vice-admiral of the blue on 12 April 1794. He was appointed second in command to Hood's successor in the Mediterranean, Admiral William Hotham
, and took part in the Naval Battle of Genoa
on 4 March 1795, and the Naval Battle of Hyères Islands
on
13 July, having been further advanced to vice-admiral of the white on 4 July 1795. These battles were minor victories for the British, though Goodall was unable to distinguish himself, a frustration he shared with another officer, Captain Horatio Nelson
of . Goodall supported Nelson, and advised Hotham to press his advantage and call for a general action, but Hotham demurred.
Goodall was not offered the command of the fleet
after Hotham's recall, and reportedly disappointed by this, he requested permission to strike his flag at the end of 1795. He had no further active service, though he continued to be promoted on the basis of his seniority, reaching the rank of admiral of the blue on 14 February 1799, and admiral of the white on 1 January 1801. Admiral Samuel Goodall died unmarried at Teignmouth
on 21 April 1801, and was buried there. He left bequests totalling nearly £20,000 to naval friends and companions, hinting at 'a man who valued friendship and loyalty'.
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...
who saw service during the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
, the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary Wars
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...
in a career that spanned 50 years, rising to the rank of Admiral of the White.
Goodall rose from obscure origins to the rank of lieutenant during the Seven Years' War, and continued to rise through the ranks to command his own ships. He ended the war serving in the West Indies and North America, having seen action at the Battle of Havana, and then returned to Britain. He commanded several ships in the peace before the outbreak of the American War of Independence, when he commanded several ships of the line with the Channel Fleet
Channel Fleet
The Channel Fleet was the Royal Navy formation of warships that defended the waters of the English Channel from 1690 to 1909.-History:The Channel Fleet dates back at least to 1690 when its role was to defend England against the French threat under the leadership of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of...
. He was with Keppel
Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel
Admiral Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel PC was an officer of the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the War of American Independence...
at the Battle of Ushant
Battle of Ushant (1778)
The Battle of Ushant took place on 27 July 1778, during the American War of Independence, fought between French and British fleets 100 miles west of Ushant, a French island at the mouth of the English Channel off the north-westernmost point of France...
in 1778, and with Fielding
Charles Fielding
Charles Fielding or Feilding was a British naval officer who gained brief notoriety for his role in the Affair of Fielding and Bylandt in the run-up to the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War...
at the capture of a Dutch convoy
Affair of Fielding and Bylandt
The Affair of Fielding and Bylandt refers to a brief naval engagement off the Isle of Wight on 31 December 1779 between a Royal Navy squadron, commanded by Commodore Charles Fielding, and a naval squadron of the Dutch Republic, commanded by rear-admiral Lodewijk van Bylandt, escorting a Dutch convoy...
in 1780. Goodall next took part in Darby's
George Darby
Vice Admiral George Darby was an officer in the Royal Navy. He was the second son of Jonathan Darby III Esq. , of Leap Castle, in King's County, Ireland.-Early career:Darby joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer...
relief of Gibraltar
Great Siege of Gibraltar
The Great Siege of Gibraltar was an unsuccessful attempt by Spain and France to capture Gibraltar from the British during the American War of Independence. This was the largest action fought during the war in terms of numbers, particularly the Grand Assault of 18 September 1782...
and the Second Battle of Ushant
Battle of Ushant (1781)
The Second Battle of Ushant was a naval battle fought between French and British squadrons near Ushant on 12 December 1781, during the American War of Independence.-Battle:...
in 1781, after which he sailed to the West Indies to join the fleet under Sir George Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, KB was a British naval officer. He is best known for his commands in the American War of Independence, particularly his victory over the French at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782...
.
Several fleet actions followed, and Goodall distinguished himself with service at the Battle of the Saintes
Battle of the Saintes
The Battle of the Saintes took place over 4 days, 9 April 1782 – 12 April 1782, during the American War of Independence, and was a victory of a British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney over a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse forcing the French and Spanish to abandon a planned...
and the subsequent Battle of the Mona Passage
Battle of the Mona Passage
The Battle of the Mona Passage was a naval engagement on 19 April 1782 between a British fleet under Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, and a small French fleet. It took place in the Mona Passage, a strait separating Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, shortly after the British victory at the Battle of the...
, where he was instrumental in the capture of two French ships of the line. After further service in North America, he returned to Britain on the conclusion of the war. The Spanish armament in 1790 provided a chance for further employment, he commissioned a ship, but stepped down with the passing of the crisis, having been promoted to rear-admiral. A brief posting to the Newfoundland
Newfoundland Colony
Newfoundland Colony was England's first permanent colony in the New World.From 1610 to 1728, Proprietary Governors were appointed to establish colonial settlements on the island. John Guy was governor of the first settlement at Cuper's Cove. Other settlements were Bristol's Hope, Renews, New...
command came in 1792, but he returned in winter that year just prior to the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars. Flying his flag aboard the 98-gun he served with Lord Hood's
Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood
Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood was a British Admiral known particularly for his service in the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars...
fleet, first as governor of Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
during the occupation of that city
Siege of Toulon
The Siege of Toulon was an early Republican victory over a Royalist rebellion in the Southern French city of Toulon. It is also often known as the Fall of Toulon.-Context:...
, and then as second in command of the Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
, under Hood's successor, Admiral William Hotham
William Hotham, 1st Baron Hotham
Admiral William Hotham, 1st Baron Hotham was an officer in the Royal Navy. He was the son of Sir Beaumont Hotham , a lineal descendant of Sir John Hotham....
. Goodall took part in Hotham's two actions in 1795, the Naval Battle of Genoa
Naval Battle of Genoa (1795)
The Naval Battle of Genoa was fought on 14 March 1795 off the coast of Genoa, a port city in north-western Italy, between French warships under Rear-Admiral Pierre Martin and British and Neapolitan warships under Vice Admiral William Hotham...
and the Naval Battle of Hyères Islands
Naval Battle of Hyères Islands
The Naval Battle of Hyères Islands was fought on 13 July 1795 off the Hyères Islands, a group of islands off the French Mediterranean coast, about 25 km east of Toulon. The battle was fought between the van of a British fleet chasing the French squadron, and the French rear...
, but the nature of the battles prevented any chance of distinguishing himself. Disappointed at not being offered the command of the fleet on Hotham's recall, Goodall struck his flag and retired ashore. He was promoted on the basis of his seniority to admiral of the white, but saw no further active service before his death in 1801.
Early service
Details of Goodall's family and early life are unknown, though he is presumed to have entered the navy c. 1750. The earliest date he is known to be active is 1 September 1756, when he was made lieutenant. He was promoted to commander on 2 June 1760 and given the 8-gun sloop , capturing the French privateerPrivateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
Duc d'Ayen on 7 August 1760 while she was at anchor off Egersund
Egersund
The town of Egersund was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . It was merged with the surrounding municipality of Eigersund January 1, 1965....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The Duc d'Ayen was a dogger
Dogger (boat)
The dogger was a form of fishing boat, developed during the seventeenth century, that commonly operated in the North Sea. The dogger takes its name from the Dutch word dogger, meaning a fishing vessel operating a trawl...
armed with seven 4-pdrs and had a crew of 65 men. Her capture was alleged to have been in violation of Denmark's
Denmark–Norway
Denmark–Norway is the historiographical name for a former political entity consisting of the kingdoms of Denmark and Norway, including the originally Norwegian dependencies of Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands...
neutrality, and Goodall became involved in a lengthy correspondence on the subject.
George Pocock
Sir George Pocock, KB was a British officer of the Royal Navy. He rose to the rank of admiral.Pocock was from Chieveley in Berkshire, the son of Thomas Pocock, a chaplain in the navy. George Pocock entered the navy in 1718, serving aboard under the patronage of his maternal uncle, Captain...
and took part in the Battle of Havana. In June he was sent to silence a battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
east of Cojimar
Cojimar
Cojimar is a small fishing village east of Havana. It was the inspiration for Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea. It was also the location where during the 1940s an enormous Great white shark was caught, which is one of the contenders for the largest specimen of all time...
as part of the operations to land troops. He moved to the North American Station
North American Station
The North American and West Indies Station was a formation or command of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy stationed in North American waters from 1745 until the 1950s...
after this, where he assisted in the protection of the trade on the coast of Georgia
Province of Georgia
The Province of Georgia was one of the Southern colonies in British America. It was the last of the thirteen original colonies established by Great Britain in what later became the United States...
before returning to Britain in spring 1764. The draw down of the navy after the Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1763)
The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on 10 February 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement. It ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War...
ended the Seven Years' War left Goodall ashore on half-pay
Half-pay
In the British Army and Royal Navy of the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, half-pay referred to the pay or allowance an officer received when in retirement or not in actual service....
. He returned to service in 1769, commissioning the 32-gun in February and sailing to the Mediterranean in May. Goodall was then despatched in the summer of 1770 to protect British interests in Smyrna
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
.
Channel Fleet
The outbreak of the American War of Independence offered further opportunities for employment as the navy built and activated ships. Goodall took command of the 64-gun in February 1778, and joined the fleet under Augustus KeppelAugustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel
Admiral Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel PC was an officer of the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the War of American Independence...
in time to fight at the Battle of Ushant
Battle of Ushant (1778)
The Battle of Ushant took place on 27 July 1778, during the American War of Independence, fought between French and British fleets 100 miles west of Ushant, a French island at the mouth of the English Channel off the north-westernmost point of France...
on 27 July. Defiance was heavily engaged in the fighting, losing eight men killed and seventeen wounded from her crew. She then joined the squadron under Molyneux Shuldham
Molyneux Shuldham, 1st Baron Shuldham
Molyneux Shuldham was an officer of the British Royal Navy. He served for a time as colonial governor of Newfoundland.-Family and early life:...
in December that year. In 1779 Goodall was appointed to the 74-gun , which he would command for the next four years.
Goodall spent the first three of these serving with the Channel Fleet
Channel Fleet
The Channel Fleet was the Royal Navy formation of warships that defended the waters of the English Channel from 1690 to 1909.-History:The Channel Fleet dates back at least to 1690 when its role was to defend England against the French threat under the leadership of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of...
, at first under Sir Charles Hardy
Charles Hardy
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Hardy was a Royal Navy officer and colonial governor of New York.-Early career:Born at Portsmouth, the son of a vice admiral, Charles Hardy joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer in 1731....
, and then from December with Commodore Charles Fielding
Charles Fielding
Charles Fielding or Feilding was a British naval officer who gained brief notoriety for his role in the Affair of Fielding and Bylandt in the run-up to the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War...
's squadron. He was with the squadron on 31 December 1780 when the British force intercepted a Dutch convoy, and Fielding demanded to be allowed to search the ships. Their commander, Lodewijk van Bylandt
Lodewijk van Bylandt
Lodewijk Count Van Bylandt was a Dutch lieutenant-admiral. He gained a certain notoriety in the Affair of Fielding and Bylandt of 1779 and even more in consequence of the refusal of the Dutch navy to put out to sea to combine with the French fleet in Brest in 1783, during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch...
refused, and Fielding attacked. After a brief action
Affair of Fielding and Bylandt
The Affair of Fielding and Bylandt refers to a brief naval engagement off the Isle of Wight on 31 December 1779 between a Royal Navy squadron, commanded by Commodore Charles Fielding, and a naval squadron of the Dutch Republic, commanded by rear-admiral Lodewijk van Bylandt, escorting a Dutch convoy...
the Dutch surrendered and the convoy was taken into Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
. Goodall then served under successive commanders of the Channel Fleet, firstly Sir Francis Geary
Sir Francis Geary, 1st Baronet
Sir Francis Geary was an officer of the Royal Navy. He served during the War of the Austrian Succession, the Seven Years' War, and the American War of Independence, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral.-Family and early life:...
, and then Sir George Darby
George Darby
Vice Admiral George Darby was an officer in the Royal Navy. He was the second son of Jonathan Darby III Esq. , of Leap Castle, in King's County, Ireland.-Early career:Darby joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer...
. On 4 January 1781, while sailing in company with the 64-gun under Lord Mulgrave
Constantine Phipps, 2nd Baron Mulgrave
Constantine John Phipps, 2nd Baron Mulgrave, PC was an English explorer and officer in the Royal Navy. He served during the Seven Years War and the American War of Independence, seeing action in a number of battles and engagements...
, a squadron of three French frigates was spotted and chased. Two of them escaped, but the third was chased down and engaged in a heavy fight by Courageux, until being forced to surrender. She was the former , which had been captured by the French in 1778. She had sustained losses of 49 killed and 24 wounded, while Courageux had 10 men killed and seven wounded. Minerva was taken back into the Royal Navy under the name HMS Recovery.
Gibraltar and West Indies
Goodall was next at the relief of GibraltarGreat Siege of Gibraltar
The Great Siege of Gibraltar was an unsuccessful attempt by Spain and France to capture Gibraltar from the British during the American War of Independence. This was the largest action fought during the war in terms of numbers, particularly the Grand Assault of 18 September 1782...
by Darby's fleet on 12 April 1781, followed by service in Rear-Admiral Robert Digby's
Robert 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 :...
squadron, before returning to Darby's fleet in summer and autumn 1781. He was present at the Second Battle of Ushant
Battle of Ushant (1781)
The Second Battle of Ushant was a naval battle fought between French and British squadrons near Ushant on 12 December 1781, during the American War of Independence.-Battle:...
with Rear-Admiral Richard Kempenfelt
Richard Kempenfelt
Richard Kempenfelt was a British rear-admiral who gained a reputation as a naval innovator. He is best known for his victory against the French at the Second Battle of Ushant and for his death when the HMS Royal George accidentally sank at Portsmouth the following year.He was born at Westminster...
's fleet on 12 December 1781, after which he sailed to the West Indies to join the fleet there under Admiral Sir George Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, KB was a British naval officer. He is best known for his commands in the American War of Independence, particularly his victory over the French at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782...
on 28 February 1782. Goodall was engaged at the first clash with the French fleet under the Comte de Grasse
François Joseph Paul de Grasse
Lieutenant Général des Armées Navales François-Joseph Paul, marquis de Grasse Tilly, comte de Grasse was a French admiral. He is best known for his command of the French fleet at the Battle of the Chesapeake, which led directly to the British surrender at Yorktown...
off Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
on 9 April 1782, and again at their decisive defeat at the Battle of the Saintes
Battle of the Saintes
The Battle of the Saintes took place over 4 days, 9 April 1782 – 12 April 1782, during the American War of Independence, and was a victory of a British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney over a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse forcing the French and Spanish to abandon a planned...
on 12 April. In the former engagement Valiant was part of the van, and was heavily involved in the fighting, suffering casualties of 38 men killed and wounded. At the Saintes Valiant was in the rear division and had nine killed and 28 wounded.
After the victory at the Saintes, and during a period of calm weather, Rodney detached a squadron under his second in command, Sir Samuel Hood
Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood
Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood was a British Admiral known particularly for his service in the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars...
, to pursue some of the crippled French ships. Valiant was one of the ships detached with Hood, and on 19 April the squadron caught two ships of the line and three frigates at the entrance to the Mona Passage
Mona Passage
The Mona Passage is a strait that separates the islands of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. The Mona Passage connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, and is an important shipping route between the Atlantic and the Panama Canal....
. The French force, consisting of the 64-gun ships Caton and Jason
HMS Argonaut (1782)
The 64-gun Jason was a ship of the line of the French Navy, launched in 1779.The Royal Navy captured Jason on 19 April 1782 at the Battle of the Mona Passage...
, and the frigates Astree, Aimable and Ceres attempted to escape, Hood signalling for them to be engaged before they could run themselves ashore. In the ensuing Battle of the Mona Passage
Battle of the Mona Passage
The Battle of the Mona Passage was a naval engagement on 19 April 1782 between a British fleet under Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, and a small French fleet. It took place in the Mona Passage, a strait separating Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, shortly after the British victory at the Battle of the...
, Valiant found herself the headmost ship, and with most of the other British ships becalmed or chasing other ships, Goodall pressed on sail to catch the Caton, and managed to rake her bows, on which she immediately struck
Striking the colors
Striking the colors is the universally recognized indication of surrender, particularly for ships at sea. Surrender is dated from the time the ensign is struck.-In international law:# "Colors. A national flag . The colors . ....
. Goodall did not stop to take possession, but instead pressed on after the fleeing Jason, opening fire on her and fighting a fierce engagement for 45 minutes until the French ship surrendered. Valiant had 12 men killed and wounded in the action.
Goodall sailed in July that year to North America with Admiral Hugh Pigot, stopping at New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
between September and October, and taking part in the blockade of Cape François
Cap-Haïtien
Cap-Haïtien is a city of about 190,000 people on the north coast of Haiti and capital of the Department of Nord...
in November. He returned to Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
in early 1783, and then departed for Britain in April that year to pay Valiant after the Peace of Paris
Peace of Paris (1783)
The Peace of Paris was the set of treaties which ended the American Revolutionary War. On 3 September 1783, representatives of King George III of Great Britain signed a treaty in Paris with representatives of the United States of America—commonly known as the Treaty of Paris —and two treaties at...
brought about the conclusion of the war.
Spanish armament and interwar years
Goodall next comes to attention in May 1790 when he commissioned the 80-gun during the period of crisis known as the Spanish armament. Gibraltar was intended for service in the Channel, but the crisis passed over without breaking into open war. Goodall was made rear-admiral of the blue on 21 September 1790, and in 1792 received a posting to command in NewfoundlandNewfoundland Colony
Newfoundland Colony was England's first permanent colony in the New World.From 1610 to 1728, Proprietary Governors were appointed to establish colonial settlements on the island. John Guy was governor of the first settlement at Cuper's Cove. Other settlements were Bristol's Hope, Renews, New...
, hoisting his flag aboard the 50-gun . He returned to Britain in the winter, but was soon back on active service with the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars the following year.
French Revolutionary Wars
Goodall was promoted to rear-admiral of the red on 3 February 1793, and in April hoisted his flag aboard the 98-gun with orders to take one of the divisions of the fleet to the Mediterranean. He served under Lord Hood during the occupation of ToulonSiege of Toulon
The Siege of Toulon was an early Republican victory over a Royalist rebellion in the Southern French city of Toulon. It is also often known as the Fall of Toulon.-Context:...
, during which time he acted as governor of the city until the arrival from Britain of Sir Gilbert Elliott
Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto
Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto PC , known as Sir Gilbert Elliott between 1777 and 1797 and as The Lord Minto between 1797 and 1813, was a Scottish politician diplomat....
. Goodall then took part in the operations against Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
, receiving official praise for his efforts from Hood, and a promotion to vice-admiral of the blue on 12 April 1794. He was appointed second in command to Hood's successor in the Mediterranean, Admiral William Hotham
William Hotham, 1st Baron Hotham
Admiral William Hotham, 1st Baron Hotham was an officer in the Royal Navy. He was the son of Sir Beaumont Hotham , a lineal descendant of Sir John Hotham....
, and took part in the Naval Battle of Genoa
Naval Battle of Genoa (1795)
The Naval Battle of Genoa was fought on 14 March 1795 off the coast of Genoa, a port city in north-western Italy, between French warships under Rear-Admiral Pierre Martin and British and Neapolitan warships under Vice Admiral William Hotham...
on 4 March 1795, and the Naval Battle of Hyères Islands
Naval Battle of Hyères Islands
The Naval Battle of Hyères Islands was fought on 13 July 1795 off the Hyères Islands, a group of islands off the French Mediterranean coast, about 25 km east of Toulon. The battle was fought between the van of a British fleet chasing the French squadron, and the French rear...
on
13 July, having been further advanced to vice-admiral of the white on 4 July 1795. These battles were minor victories for the British, though Goodall was unable to distinguish himself, a frustration he shared with another officer, Captain Horatio Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
of . Goodall supported Nelson, and advised Hotham to press his advantage and call for a general action, but Hotham demurred.
Goodall was not offered the command of the fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
after Hotham's recall, and reportedly disappointed by this, he requested permission to strike his flag at the end of 1795. He had no further active service, though he continued to be promoted on the basis of his seniority, reaching the rank of admiral of the blue on 14 February 1799, and admiral of the white on 1 January 1801. Admiral Samuel Goodall died unmarried at Teignmouth
Teignmouth
Teignmouth is a town and civil parish in Teignbridge in the English county of Devon, situated on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the River Teign about 14 miles south of Exeter. It has a population of 14,413. In 1690, it was the last place in England to be invaded by a foreign power...
on 21 April 1801, and was buried there. He left bequests totalling nearly £20,000 to naval friends and companions, hinting at 'a man who valued friendship and loyalty'.