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POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

195

former ship, the Diomede. After the capture of Monte Video he sailed for Europe; and in June 1807, was put out of commission. During the latter part of the war, he commanded the prison-ships stationed at Portsmouth, and the Princess Caroline of 74 guns, attached to the North Sea fleet.

Captain Downman married, June 23, 1803, a daughter of Mr. Peter Palmer, of Portsmouth.

Agent.– ___

HON. THOMAS BLADEN, CAPEL^[1]
A Companion of the most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.
[Post-Captain of 1798.]

This officer is descended from Sir William Capel, who was Lord Mayor of London in 1493; and the youngest son

↑ Among the eminent men of this family, whose founder was Sir William Capel, Lord Mayor of London, we find a Giles Capel, who was knighted by Hen. VIII. for his valour in different battles. Arthur, first Lord Capel, who, during the civil wars, took part with Charles I., raised several troops of horse at his own expence, defended Colchester with great bravery, and after the surrender of the garrison was beheaded, with the Duke of Hamilton, Earl of Cambridge, &c. &c., in express violation of the promise of quarter given by the rebels: “he was a man,” says Lord Clarendon, “in whom the malice of his enemies could discover very few faults; and whom his friends could not wish to see better accomplished.” * * * * “In a word, he was a man, that whoever after him, deserves best of the English nation, he can never think him self under valued, when he shall hear that his courage, virtue, and fidelity, is laid in the balance with, and compared to, that of Lord Capel.” Arthur, the son of this nobleman, was created Earl of Essex, April 20, 1661; held several important situations in the diplomatic line, and exhibited a noble instance of prudence, integrity, and moderation, as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, from whence he was recalled in 1677; and being afterwards accused as one of the conspirators in the “Rye House Plot,” was committed to the Tower, where he was found with his throat cut, July 13, 1683; a catastrophe which is yet involved in mystery. His only son, Algernon, second Earl of Essex, was a Lord of the Bedchamber to King William, and attended him in all his campaigns. The following mention will be found of him among the “Anecdotes of the Court of Queen Anne” – “He is a good companion; loves the interests of his country; hath no genius for business, nor will ever apply himself that way. He married my Lord Portland’s daughter. The Queen continues him in her regiment, and has made him Brigadier-General. He is a well-bred gentleman, brown compkxioned, and well-shaped; but his mouth is always open.”

Hampton Court, a splendid building in Herefordshire, with a consider-

[page_195-1] Among the eminent men of this family, whose founder was Sir William Capel, Lord Mayor of London, we find a Giles Capel, who was knighted by Hen. VIII. for his valour in different battles. Arthur, first Lord Capel, who, during the civil wars, took part with Charles I., raised several troops of horse at his own expence, defended Colchester with great bravery, and after the surrender of the garrison was beheaded, with the Duke of Hamilton, Earl of Cambridge, &c. &c., in express violation of the promise of quarter given by the rebels: “he was a man,” says Lord Clarendon, “in whom the malice of his enemies could discover very few faults; and whom his friends could not wish to see better accomplished.” * * * * “In a word, he was a man, that whoever after him, deserves best of the English nation, he can never think him self under valued, when he shall hear that his courage, virtue, and fidelity, is laid in the balance with, and compared to, that of Lord Capel.” Arthur, the son of this nobleman, was created Earl of Essex, April 20, 1661; held several important situations in the diplomatic line, and exhibited a noble instance of prudence, integrity, and moderation, as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, from whence he was recalled in 1677; and being afterwards accused as one of the conspirators in the “Rye House Plot,” was committed to the Tower, where he was found with his throat cut, July 13, 1683; a catastrophe which is yet involved in mystery. His only son, Algernon, second Earl of Essex, was a Lord of the Bedchamber to King William, and attended him in all his campaigns. The following mention will be found of him among the “Anecdotes of the Court of Queen Anne” – “He is a good companion; loves the interests of his country; hath no genius for business, nor will ever apply himself that way. He married my Lord Portland’s daughter. The Queen continues him in her regiment, and has made him Brigadier-General. He is a well-bred gentleman, brown compkxioned, and well-shaped; but his mouth is always open.”

Hampton Court, a splendid building in Herefordshire, with a consider-

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