A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Martin, Henry Byam

1827524A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Martin, Henry ByamWilliam Richard O'Byrne

MARTIN, C.B. (Captain, 1827. f-p., 16; h-p., 15.)

Henry Byam Martin is second son of Admiral Sir Thos. Byam Martin, G.C.B.

This officer entered the Royal Naval College, 8 Oct. 1816; and embarked, in Oct. 1818, as Midshipman, on board the Liffey 50, Capt. Hon. Henry Duncan, with whom he was employed in the Channel and on particular service, until transferred, in April, 1820, to the Rochfort 80; from which ship, bearing the flag of Sir Graham Moore in the Mediterranean, he was lent for several months in 1821-2 to the Seringapatam 46, Capt. Sam. Warren, Chanticleer sloop, Capt. Henry Eden, and Euryalus 42, Capt. Augustus Wm. Jas. Clifford. In Feb. 1823, he joined the Ramillies 74, Capt. Edw. Brace, lying at Portsmouth; and on 20 of the ensuing month he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant; his appointments in which capacity, it appears, were, 1 July, 1823, and 26 Dec. 1824, to the Sybille frigate, Capt. John Brooke Pechell, and Revenge 76, flag-ship of Sir Harry Burrard Neale, on the Jamaica and Mediterranean stations. He attained the rank of Commander 8 April, 1825; and, after he had had command for about 12 mouths of the Parthian 10, in the Mediterranean, was advanced, 28 April, 1827, to Post-rank. From the latter date Capt. Martin did not again go afloat until appointed, 21 Nov. 1836, to the Carysfort 26, in which vessel he was for nearly five years again employed in the Mediterranean, where his services on the coast of Syria, including the attacks upon Tortosa and St. Jean d’Acre, procured his enrolment among the Companions of the Bath, 18 Dec. 1840. On the former occasion he received the grateful acknowledgments of Capt. Houston Stewart, of the Benbow, the senior officer present, for the support and assistance he afforded him, as well as for the astonishing precision of his fire in covering the boats and men employed on shore.[1] He has been in command, since 15 Nov. 1845, of the Grampus 50, in the Pacific. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.


  1. Vide Gaz. 1840, p. 2607.