Vice Admiral George Darby

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Darby

Vice Admiral George Darby (c.1720 – 1790) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He was the second son of Jonathan Darby III Esq. (d.1742/3), of Leap Castle, in King's County, Ireland.

Early career

Darby joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer. He had received his first command in 1747 and his career was uneventful until the Seven Years' War, in which he served under Admiral Rodney at the capture of Martinique in 1762. When in England, he lived at Newtown, Hampshire.

American War of Independence

In the American Revolutionary War of 1775 to 1783, Admiral Keppel's resignation during the crisis following the Battle of Ushant in 1778 left a vacancy for command of the Channel Fleet. In 1778 Darby became a Rear-Admiral and the following year was advanced to Vice-Admiral, thanks to his association with Lord Sandwich, First Lord of the Admiralty, during the court martial of Admiral Palliser. Thus he unexpectedly came to command the Channel Fleet in 1780 at a time of grave danger for Britain. He was also appointed one of the Lords of the Admiralty. In April 1781 he relieved Gibraltar from its siege by the Spanish, for the second time during that war. This event is recorded in a full-length portrait by George Romney, painted 1783–6, which hangs in the National Maritime Museum. On the change of ministry in 1782 he resigned his command and did not again serve at sea. He was Member of Parliament for Plymouth, 1780–1784. He was the uncle of Admiral Sir Henry D'Esterre Darby.

Vice-Admiral George Darby was born in 1720 and was the son of Jonathan Darby and Anna Maria Frend.

He married twice, his first wife was Mary St. Quintin, daughter of Sir William St. Quintin, 4th Bt.,they were married in 1768. He later married Ann Jackson in 1776.

He held the office of a Lord of the Admiralty and held the office of Elder Brother of Trinity House.

He was Vice-Admiral of the Channel Fleet at the relief of Gibraltar in 1781 and became a Vice-Admiral of England in 1787.

Vice-Admiral George Darby and Mary St. Quintin had the following children:

• John Darby
• Maj.-Gen. Matthew Chitty Darby-Griffith who died on 7 Aug 1823 Wiki Page
• Mary Darby
• William Thomas St. Quintin 26 May 1769 - 18 Jan 1805 inherited the Scampston Hall
• and possibly another daughter.

He died on 26 November 1790.

The Peerage

• Wikipedia contributors. "George Darby." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

Family and Education b. c.1720. m. (1) 1768, Mary (d. 5 Apr. 1773), da. of Sir William St. Quentin, 4th Bt., 2s.; (2) sis. of Richard Jackson wid. of Thomas Bridges. ...Darby died 26 Mar. 1790.

George Darby on History of Parliament Online