Sir Henry Martin, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Captain
Henry Martin, 1st Baronet (1733–1794) was a naval commander whose final appointment was Comptroller of the Navy
1790–1794.
Martin was born at Shroton House, Dorset, 29 August 1733. On the death of his brother George in 1748 he became the eldest surviving son of the second marriage of Samuel Martin, plantation owner of Antigua to Sarah née Wyke, 20, widow of William Irish, plantation owner of Montserrat in the West Indies.
in the Royal Navy
and served in American and West Indian waters in the Seven Years War. He married in 1761 and after the conclusion of the peace treaties in early 1763 they lived at Bishopstown near Cork where he had a leasehold farm. Considered by his father to be 'self-diffident' and in 'want of that assurance so necessary to push his way to preferment' he was given the goad of being let survive with some difficulty on limited resources from prize money and his father's marriage settlement. He returned to the Navy briefly in 1770 during a war scare and thereafter lived at Bath where his father joined them.
In 1780 he was appointed resident naval commissioner at Portsmouth and acquitted himself competently for ten years. As commissioner he twice played host to the young Prince William, later William IV, the adroit handling of whose involvement with Martin's daughter bore him credit with King George III.
Harry Martin succeeded his half-brother, Samuel
as a plantation owner in Antigua
in 1788. In March 1790 he was appointed Comptroller of the Navy
and later that year was elected Member of Parliament
for Southampton
. He was created a baronet 28 July 1791, Martin of Lockynge, Berkshire.
Their youngest son, Admiral Sir Thomas Byam Martin
was also Comptroller of the Navy 1816–1831.
He died at his Town House, 51 Upper Harley Street, London on Friday, 1 August 1794 a few weeks before his 61st birthday.
"In the death of Sir Henry Martin, Baronet, late Comptroller of the Navy, the world has been deprived of one of its nobleft ornaments; for as fuch, muft ever be efteemed a character replete with every virtue that can dignify human nature. His lofs in public and private will be feverely felt. The uprightness of his actions in his public capacity is too well known to need the teftimony of an individual; and in private life, thofe who were fo happy as to know him beft, daily faw in him the kind indulgent hufband, the tender affectionate father, the firm and faithful friend. The benevolence of his mind fhone conspicuous in every action of his life. He lived adored by his family, beloved, efteemed, admired by his numerous acquaintance. He died fincerely lamented by all; and to fum up his character in one fhort line, "The feat of every virtue was his heart!""
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Captain (Royal Navy)
Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
Henry Martin, 1st Baronet (1733–1794) was a naval commander whose final appointment was Comptroller of the Navy
Third Sea Lord
The Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy was formerly the Naval Lord and member of the Board of Admiralty responsible for procurement and matériel in the British Royal Navy...
1790–1794.
Martin was born at Shroton House, Dorset, 29 August 1733. On the death of his brother George in 1748 he became the eldest surviving son of the second marriage of Samuel Martin, plantation owner of Antigua to Sarah née Wyke, 20, widow of William Irish, plantation owner of Montserrat in the West Indies.
Career
Martin was educated at the Portsmouth naval academy and privately by Dr Pemberton. He was appointed a CaptainCaptain (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 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...
and served in American and West Indian waters in the Seven Years War. He married in 1761 and after the conclusion of the peace treaties in early 1763 they lived at Bishopstown near Cork where he had a leasehold farm. Considered by his father to be 'self-diffident' and in 'want of that assurance so necessary to push his way to preferment' he was given the goad of being let survive with some difficulty on limited resources from prize money and his father's marriage settlement. He returned to the Navy briefly in 1770 during a war scare and thereafter lived at Bath where his father joined them.
In 1780 he was appointed resident naval commissioner at Portsmouth and acquitted himself competently for ten years. As commissioner he twice played host to the young Prince William, later William IV, the adroit handling of whose involvement with Martin's daughter bore him credit with King George III.
Harry Martin succeeded his half-brother, Samuel
Samuel Martin (Secretary to the Treasury)
Samuel Martin was a British politician and administrator.-Family:He was the son of Samuel Martin, the leading plantation owner on the West Indies island of Antigua, where he was born, and eldest half-brother of Sir Henry Martin, 1st Baronet , for many years naval commissioner at Portsmouth and...
as a plantation owner in Antigua
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
in 1788. In March 1790 he was appointed Comptroller of the Navy
Third Sea Lord
The Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy was formerly the Naval Lord and member of the Board of Admiralty responsible for procurement and matériel in the British Royal Navy...
and later that year was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Southampton
Southampton (UK Parliament constituency)
Southampton was a parliamentary constituency which was represented in the British House of Commons. Centred on the town of Southampton, it returned two Members of Parliament from 1295 until it was abolished for the 1950 general election....
. He was created a baronet 28 July 1791, Martin of Lockynge, Berkshire.
Family
Henry Martin married, 26 November 1761, Eliza Anne Gillman, daughter of Harding Parker of Passage West county Cork and widow of St Leger Hayward Gillman of Gillmansville county Cork. They had four sons and four daughters.Their youngest son, Admiral Sir Thomas Byam Martin
Thomas Byam Martin
Admiral Sir Thomas Byam Martin, GCB was a highly influential British Royal Navy officer who served at sea during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and then as a naval administrator until his death in 1854...
was also Comptroller of the Navy 1816–1831.
He died at his Town House, 51 Upper Harley Street, London on Friday, 1 August 1794 a few weeks before his 61st birthday.
"In the death of Sir Henry Martin, Baronet, late Comptroller of the Navy, the world has been deprived of one of its nobleft ornaments; for as fuch, muft ever be efteemed a character replete with every virtue that can dignify human nature. His lofs in public and private will be feverely felt. The uprightness of his actions in his public capacity is too well known to need the teftimony of an individual; and in private life, thofe who were fo happy as to know him beft, daily faw in him the kind indulgent hufband, the tender affectionate father, the firm and faithful friend. The benevolence of his mind fhone conspicuous in every action of his life. He lived adored by his family, beloved, efteemed, admired by his numerous acquaintance. He died fincerely lamented by all; and to fum up his character in one fhort line, "The feat of every virtue was his heart!""
External links
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