GEORGE FRANCIS SEYMOUR, Esq.
A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath; and Serjeant-at-Arms to the House of Lords.
[Post-Captain of 1806.]
The family of Seymour appeared in the navy so early as the reign of Edward VI. When Edward, Earl of Hertford, uncle to the young king; was declared protector, and created Duke of Somerset, his brother, Sir Thomas Seymour, was made Baron of Sudley, and raised to the station of Lord High Admiral, on the resignation of Viscount Lisle, Earl of Warwick. They are descended from the St. Maurs, who came to England with William the Conqueror; and by corruption of speech they were first called Seymour about the time of Edward III.
Lord Hugh Seymour, (father of Captain George Francis Seymour) was the fifth son of Francis, first Marquis of Hertford, by Lady Isabella, youngest daughter of Charles, second Duke of Grafton. His lordship was born April 29, 1759; entered the naval service when only eleven years of age; obtained the rank of post-captain in 1779; aud established his character as a brave officer and skilful seaman, when commanding the Latona frigate, at the relief of Gibraltar, in 1782. During the ensuing peace he formed an intimacy with his present Majesty, to whom he afterwards bequeathed his sword, which is still carefully preserved in the royal armoury. Lord Hugh commanded the Leviathan 74, at the occupation of Toulon, 1793; and bore a very distinguished part in the memorable battles of May 28 and 29, and June 1, 1794; his conduct on the two former days is thus noticed by Earl Howe, in a supplementary official letter, dated June 21:– “The quick approach of night” (May 28) “only allowed me to observe, that Lord Hugh Seymour in the Leviathan, with equal good judgment and determined courage, pushed up alongside of the French three-decked ship” (Revolutionnaire of 110 guns) ”and was supported by Captain Parker, of the Audacious, in the most spirited manner. I have since learnt that the Leviathan stretched on farther a-head, for bringing the second ship from the enemy’s rear to action, as soon as her former station could be occupied by a succeeding British ship.” Respecting the Leviathan, on the ensuing day, his lordship adds, “the Queen Charlotte was therefore immediately tacked, and, followed by the Bellerophon, her second astern, and soon after joined by the Leviathan, passed through in action, between the fifth and sixth ships in the rear of the enemy’s line.”
It is but justice to the memory of Lord Hugh Seymour and to the superior officers of the Leviathan, to state a fact in this place which has hitherto escaped the notice of every naval historian.
