A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Baugh, Henry
BAUGH. (Captain, 1841. f-p., 18; h-p., 36.)
Henry Baugh entered the Navy, 7 Feb. 1793, as Midshipman, on board the St. Albans 64, Capt. Jas. Vashon, employed in the Mediterranean and West Indies; removed, in May, 1795, with the same officer, to the Pompée 80; and continued to serve in that ship, off Cadiz and with the Channel fleet, until promoted, 19 Feb. 1799, into the Cynthia 16, Capt. Micajah Malbou, stationed off Havre de Grace. After serving for a short time in the Trusty 50, Capt. Geo. Bowen, off the Texel, we find him in succession appointed – 16 Dec. 1799, to the Romney 50, Capt. John Lawford, at Sheemess – 27 June, 1801, to the Dreadnought 98, Capt. Jas. Vashon, off Cadiz, whence he invalided 22 Jan. 1802 – and, 10 May, 1803, to L’Impétueux 74, Capt. Thos. Byam Martin, employed in the Channel. On 2 Jan. 1806, Lieut. Baugh assumed command of the 14-gun brig Rapid, and on 23 April, 1808, being off Faro, on the south coast of Portugal, in company with the Grasshopper 18, Capt. Thos. Searle [errata 1], signalized himself by his gallantry in capturing, after a severe action of two hours and a half, fought among shoals and within grape-shot of a battery, two Spanish vessels laden with cargoes valued at 30,000l. each, and further protected by four gun-boats, two of which were forced to surrender, and the remainder driven on shore. The Rapid was subsequently, on 18 of the following month, sunk by the batteries in the river Tagus in an attempted attack on two feluccas. Capt. Baugh, whose meritorious conduct in the action we have above noticed was rewarded by a Commander’s commission, dated 19 May, 1808, afterwards served, from June, 1809, to Feb 1810, in the Isle of Wight district of Sea Fencibles, and from 6 Feb. 1812, until June, 1814, in command of the Vulture bomb, employed off Jersey and Guernsey. He has not since been afloat. Post-rank was conferred on him 23 Nov. 1841.