Digby Willoughby, 7th Baron Middleton (29 November 1769 – 5 November 1856) was an English

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 nobleman and sailor, the eldest son of Francis Willoughby

Francis Willoughby

Francis Willoughby may refer to:* Francis Willoughby , industrialist and coalowner* Francis Willughby , English ornithologist and ichthyologist* Francis Willoughby, 2nd Baron Middleton , Old Etonian...

 of Hesley and Octavia Fisher, and grandson of Thomas Willoughby

Thomas Willoughby (MP)

Thomas Willoughby , English politician, was the second son of Thomas Willoughby, 1st Baron Middleton and Elizabeth Rothwell. He was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge. He was MP for the university in 1720 and from 1721 to 1727; from 1727 to 1730 he was MP for Tamworth.He married Elizabeth Southby...

.

He entered 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...

 in 1782, retiring as a captain

Captain (naval)

Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....

 in 1840.

He never married but had one illegitimate daughter, Octavia.

He lived in the Willoughby family seat at Wollaton Park, Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...

.