289
DICKSON—DIDHAM—DIGBY.
and, after holding for fifteen months the command, as Acting-Lieutenant, of the Lemon and Orange schooners, on the latter station, was confirmed in his present rank 21 Aug. 1812. Mr. Dickson, whose ensuing appointment was, 17 May, 1813, to the Grasshopper 18, commanded in the Mediterranean by Capts. Henry Robt. Battersby and Sir Chas. Burrard, has been on half-pay since 6 JFeb. 1816.
He married, in Oct. 1819, Hester, youngest daughter of Daniel Eccles, Esq., of Ecclesville, co. Tyrone, and has issue two children.
DICKSON. (Commander, 1815. f-p., 15; h-p., 31.)
William Henry Dickson is son of the late Admiral Dickson.
This officer entered the Navy, in March, 1801, as Midshipman, on board the Powerful 74, Capt. Sir Fras. Laforey, whom he successively accompanied to the Baltic, to Cadiz, and to South America. Independently of various ships, on the books of which we merely find him borne for the purpose of effecting a passage from one station to another, Mr. Dickson, subsequently to the peace of Amiens, served on board La Virginie 38, Capt. John Poo Beresford, and Centaur 74, bearing the broad pendant in the West Indies of Commodore Sir Sam. Hood, of which ship he became an Acting-Lieutenant 5 April, 1805. Being confirmed by the Admiralty 16 Jan. 1806, he afterwards joined – 15 Feb. 1806, the Camilla 28, Capts. John Tower and John Bowen, off Newfoundland – 11 April, 1807, the Jupiter 50, Capt. Henry Edw. Reginald Baker, under whom, when returning from China, he was wrecked on a reef of rocks, off Vigo, 10 Dec. 1808 – 20 March, 1809, and 28 March, 1810, to the Ruby 64, and Victory 100, flag-ships in the Baltic of Admirals Manley Dixon and Sir Jas. Saumarez – 11 July, 1812, to the Dragon 74, bearing the flag in the West Indies of Sir Jas. Saumarez – and, 16 Nov. 1812, to the command, on the same station, of the Maria brig, of 16 guns. He attained his present rank 21 Aug. 1815; and, after intermediately commanding the Chanticleer sloop, also in the West Indies, was placed on half-pay, in Aug. 1816. He has not since been afloat.
Commander Dickson, who was the zealous projector and principal promoter of the Royal Naval School, is now Secretary to the Royal Naval Benevolent Society.
DIDHAM. (Lieutenant, 1846)
Charles John Didham passed his examination 9 Sept. 1845; was immediately appointed Mate of the President 50, flag-ship at the Cape of Good Hope of Rear-Admiral Jas. Rich. Dacres; obtained his commission 28 July, 1846; and has been since serving on board the Cleopatra 26, Capt. Christopher Wyvill.
DIGBY. (Lieut., 1821. f-p., 30; h-p., 4.)
Edward Digby, born 14 April, 1799, is second son of the late Rev. John Digby, of Osberstown, co. Kildare, and of New Park, co. Meath, who for thirty years was in the Commission of the Peace, by Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Edw. Borr, Esq., of Spring Park, in the latter shire, a descendant of the celebrated Bishop Jeremy Taylor. He is related to Capts. Jos. Digby and Digby Marsh, R.N. This officer entered the Navy, 6 Aug. 1813, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Devonshire 74, Capt. Ross Donnelly; and on removing, as Midshipman, to the Harlequin 18, Capt. Wm. Kempthome, assisted at the capture, off Newfoundland, of the Ida privateer, and was present in a mistaken and very severe action with the Princess Charlotte, a King’s packet. During the four years immediately consecutive on the general peace, he served as Master’s Mate of the Podargus 16, Capts. Jas. Wallis, Jas. Cairnes, and Hon. Henry John Rous, off St. Helena, for the purpose of securing the detention of Buonaparte. He then, in July, 1819, passed his examination; and was soon after appointed to the Coast Blockade. On 11 Feb. 1821, he assisted, with the present Commander C. J. F. Newton, and was wounded, at the attack and defeat of an overwhelming band of armed smugglers, at Brookland, in Kent. For his share in that daring exploit, Mr. Digby was promoted by Lord Melville to his present rank 4 May following. He was afterwards reemployed in the Coast Blockade from Nov. 1823, to Dec. 1825; and since Dec. 1826, has been in almost uninterrupted charge of a station in the Coast Guard.
He married Sarah, daughter of the late Hugh Crawford, of Orangefield, co. Down, by whom he has issue a son and daughter.
DIGBY. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 13; h-p., 28.)
Everard Digby entered the Navy, in Aug. 1806, as a Volunteer, on board the Devastation bomb, Capt. Matthew Smith, stationed in the Channel. In July, 1807, he removed to the Cossack 22, Capt. Geo. Digby; and after attending the ensuing expedition to Copenhagen, and co-operating for several months with the patriots on the coast of Spain, he joined, in Jan. 1810, as Midshipman, the Theban 38, Capt. Stephen Thos. Digby, with whom he eventually proceeded to the East Indies. On his return home in the Illustrious 74, Capt. Alex. Skene, he became attached to the Saturn 56, Capt. Jas. Nash; and on being sent to North America, was there appointed, 19 Dec. 1814, Acting-Lieutenant of the Narcissus 32, Capt. Gordon. He obtained his official promotion 10 Feb. 1815; and was subsequently employed – from 22 April to 23 Aug. following, in the Amphion 32, Capts. Jas. Pattison Stewart and John Brett Purvis, off Cherbourg – and, from 30 Dec. 1825, until 1829, in the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Hyperion 42, Capt. Wm. Jas. Mingaye. For a short time towards the close of 1846, Lieut. Digby had charge of a station in the Coast Guard. He has since been on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.
DIGBY. (Captain, 1815. f-p., 13; h-p., 34.)
Joseph Digby, born 15 July, 1786, is youngest son of the late Hon. and Rev. Wm. Digby, LL.D., Dean of Durham, Vicar of Coles Hill, Chaplain in Ordinary to George III., and Canon of Christchurch, by Charlotte, daughter of Joseph Cox, Esq.; brother of Admiral of the Blue, the late Sir Henry Digby, G.C.B.,[1] and of the late Capt. Chas. Geo. Digby, R.N.; brother-in-law of the late Earl of Ilchester, of Sir John Sheffield, Bart., of Sir John Henry Newbolt, Kt., Chief Justice at Madras, and of Sir Thos. Neave, Bart.; first cousin of the present Earl Digby, and of the late Capt. Stephen Thos. Digby, R.N.; and a relative of Lieut. Edw. Digby, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 12 June, 1800, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Dryad 36, Capts. Chas. John Moore Mansfield and Robt. Williams, with whom he served, chiefly on the Irish station, until the summer of 1803. From that period until Sept. 1806, he next officiated as Midshipman, on the Home and East India stations, of the Euryalus 36, Capt. Hon. Henry Blackwood, Culloden 74, flag-ship of Sir Edw. Pellew, Harrier 18, Capt. Edw. Katsey, and Russel 74, Capt. Robt. Caulfeild. While in the Harrier, we find him, in company with the Phaeton 38, present, 2 Aug. 1805, in a severe action of two hours and a half with the French 36-gun frigate Sémillante, and several batteries, at the entrance of the Straits of St. Bernadino, Philippine Islands; on which occasion the Harrier, besides being much cut up, sustained a loss of two men wounded. In Oct. 1806, Mr. Digby was appointed Acting-Lieutenant of the Duncan alias Dover fri-
While commanding the Alcmene frigate. Sir Henry Digby had the good fortune, in company with the Naiad and Triton, to capture, 18 Oct. 1799, the Spanish frigate Santa Brigida having on board 1,400,000 dollars, besides a cargo of immense value. He afterwards commanded the Africa 64, at the battle of Trafalgar, 21 Oct. 1805; and, in 1840-1, was Commander-in-Chief at the Nore. He died 19 Aug. 1842 aged 73.
- ↑ While commanding the Alcmene frigate. Sir Henry Digby had the good fortune, in company with the Naiad and Triton, to capture, 18 Oct. 1799, the Spanish frigate Santa Brigida having on board 1,400,000 dollars, besides a cargo of immense value. He afterwards commanded the Africa 64, at the battle of Trafalgar, 21 Oct. 1805; and, in 1840-1, was Commander-in-Chief at the Nore. He died 19 Aug. 1842 aged 73.
