Henry D'Esterre Darby

Admiral of the Blue Sir Henry D'Esterre Darby, (9 April 1749 – 30 March 1823) was a Royal Navy officer. He was the third son of Jonathan and Susannah Darby of Leap Castle, in King's County, Ireland. He was the nephew of Vice-admiral George Darby. Darby first went to sea when he was thirteen but it was another fourteen years before he made lieutenant, aboard his uncle's ship . In 1781, he was given command of the 8-gun Infernal but was captured after an inconclusive action at the Battle of Porto Praya and remained a prisoner for the rest of the war.

Darby was promoted to captain in 1783 and commanded HMS Bellerophon at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. A letter written by Horatio Nelson after the battle, survives:

Darby was promoted to Rear-Admiral of the Blue in 1804; Rear-Admiral of the White in 1805; Rear-Admiral of the Red in 1808; Vice-Admiral of the Blue in 1810; Vice-Admiral of the White in 1811; Vice-Admiral of the Red in 1814 and finally Admiral of the Blue in 1819. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1820.

Arms