A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Libby, Edward

1804785A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Libby, EdwardWilliam Richard O'Byrne

LIBBY. (Retired Commander, 1839. f-p., 13; h-p., 45.)

Edward Libby entered the Navy, 21 May, 1789, as a Volunteer, on board the Cumberland 74, Capt. John Macbride, and was employed, until Sept. 1791, on the Home and West India stations, chiefly in the capacity of Midshipman. Re-embarking, 19 Dec. 1792, on board the Lowestoffe frigate, he was for three years and a half in that vessel on the Mediterranean station, under Capts. Wolseley, Cunningham, Middleton, and Plampin; after which he joined the Victory 100, bearing the flag of Sir John Jervis, and on 8 Feb. 1797 was appointed Acting-Lieutenant of the Blenheim 98, Capt. Thos. Lennox Frederick. For his conduct in the latter ship in the action off Cape St. Vincent, where he was wounded,[1] he was confirmed a Lieutenant, 22 March following, in the Dolphin 44, Capts. Rich. Retalick, Robt. Williams, Josiah Nisbet, Jas. Bayley, Philip Beaver, and Jas. Dalrymple, with whom he served on the Lisbon, Mediterranean, and Home stations, until Dec. 1800. He then joined the Athénienne 64, Capt. Sir Thos. Livingstone, in which ship he returned to England from the Mediterranean at the peace; and he was lastly, from Nov. 1804, until the close of 1805, employed in the Channel and North Sea on board the Sulphur bomb, Capt. Matthews, and Namur 74, Capt. Lawrence Wm. Halsted. In compensation of his wound the Commander was presented with a grant from the Patriotic Fund. He was placed on the Junior List of Retired Commanders 26 Nov. 1830; and on the Senior 20 March, 1839.


  1. Vide Gaz. 1797, p. 212.