of the Irresistible to 1 man killed and 1 wounded. The skill exhibited by Capt. Martin in having rounded a dangerous reef of rocks, called the Laja de Cape Rocha, a little to the northward of Conil, and his decision in the ensuing attack, were declared by Earl St. Vincent to have displayed one of the most notable actions that had ever come under his observation.[1] In Feb. 1800 we find Capt. Martin, then in command of the Northumberland, acquiring the approbation of Lord Nelson for his alacrity and good conduct at the capture of the French 74-gun ship Généreux;[2] and in the ensuing May succeeding Capt. Troubridge in the command of the blockading squadron before Malta. In the month of Aug. the Diane and Justice frigates made their escape from the harbour of Valetta, but not unperceived by the Northumberland, who, joining the Success 32, went in immediate chase and contrived to capture the Diane.[3] On 5 Sept. in the same year Capt. Martin, whose perseverance in the discharge of his blockading duties had been unremitting, had the honour of signing the capitulation in virtue of which the important island of Malta became annexed to the Crown of England.[4] He afterwards, in 1801, accompanied the expedition under Lord Keith and Sir Ralph Abercromby to Egypt, where his activity and exertions a second time caused his being included in the thanks of Parliament. In April 1804 he was nominated a Colonel of Marines; and on 22 July, 1805, at which period, as above shown, he was in command of the Barfleur, he distinguished himself in Sir Robt. Calder’s action with Admiral Villeneuve.[5] Attaining Flag-rank 9 Nov. 1805, Rear-Admiral Martin, on 17 Jan, 1806, was appointed second in command at Portsmouth, where, with his flag in the Gladiator 50, he remained for a period of 10 months – during, we believe, the absence of Sir Isaac Coffin on Admiralty leave. In May 1807 he proceeded, in the Cumberland 74, off Cadiz, for the purpose of watching the enemy’s ships in the harbour; after which, entering the Mediterranean, he continued on that station, with his flag in the Montagu 74, Queen 98, and Canopus 80, until some months subsequent to his promotion, 31 July, 1810, to the rank of Vice-Admiral. At first, he was employed off the coast of Italy, and in protecting Sicily from the hostile designs of the French; and in June, 1809, he took possession of the islands of Ischia and Procida.[6] On the night of 23 Oct. 1809, being at the time off Cape St. Sebastian in the Canopus, the Rear-Admiral was detached by Lord Collingwood with eight of his best sailing ships (two of which accidentally parted company) in pursuit of a division of the enemy’s fleet, consisting of three ships of the line and two frigates. By noon on the 25th his intrepid perseverance had compelled the Robuste 80 and Lion 74, to run themselves on shore, within pistol-shot of each other, at a spot about six miles north-east of the harbour of Cette, and near to the village of Frontignan; and had induced the Borée 74, and Pauline frigate to seek refuge in Cette harbour, although it scarcely contained depth sufficient to float them. The two former ships were fired and blown up by their own crews.[7] In the summer of 1810, Vice-Admiral Martin returned to his station off Sicily, and while there was presented with the Order of St. Januarius by the King of Naples, as a mark of his Majesty’s approbation of the essential and zealous services rendered by him to that kingdom. We may add that the cordial and friendly co-operation he at all times afforded the troops, did not fail to call forth the public thanks of the military commander Lieut.-General Sir John Stuart, K.B.[8] In May, 1812, being appointed to the chief command on the Lisbon station, he hoisted his flag on board the Impétueux 74, and sailed for his destination, where he remained, latterly with his flag in the Sabrina frigate and Rodney 74, until June, 1814; about which period he received the honour of knighthood in commemoration of the King’s visit to the fleet at Spithead.[9] In Jan. 1815, he was created a K.C.B.; in Feb. 1821, a G.C.B.; and on 19 July in the latter year an Admiral of the Blue. His last appointment was, 27 March, 1824, to the post of Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth; where his flag, which had been flying the whole time in the Victory, was struck 30 April, 1827. Sir Geo. Martin was raised to the dignity of Admiral of the Fleet 9 Nov. 1846. He had been successively constituted Rear and Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom in Jan. 1833 and April, 1834;[10] and a G.C.M.G. in 1836.
He married, first, 3 April, 1804, the youngest daughter of the late Capt. John Albert Bentinck, R.N. (by Renira, Baroness de Twyell de Cerooskerken), sister of Vice-Admiral Wm. Bentinck (who married the only daughter of the first Earl Manvers and died 21 Feb. 1813), sister-in-law of Sir Jas. Hawkins Whitshed, Bart., G.C.B., Admiral of the Fleet, and grand-niece of the first Duke of Portland. That lady dying 15 Oct. 1806, he married a second time, 2 June, 1815, Miss A. Locke, daughter of Wm. Locke, Esq. of Norbury Park, co. Surrey. He was again left a widower 1 Mar. 1842.
MARTIN, C.B., K.S.L., K.S.A., K.R.G. (Captain, 1828. f-p., 21; h-p., 14.)
George Bohun Martin is third and youngest son of the late Henry Martin, Esq., of Colston Basset, Notts, a Magistrate for the co., M.P. for Kinsale, and one of the Masters in Chancery, by Maria Elizabeth, daughter of Fras. Edmunds, Esq., of Worsborough, co. York. He is nephew of the late Sir Geo. Martin, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., Admiral of the Fleet.
This officer entered the Royal Naval College, 3 April, 1812; and_ embarked, 11 April, 1815, as Midshipman, on board the Impregnable 98, Capt. Sam. Campbell Rowley, bearing the flag of Sir Josias Rowley in the Mediterranean; where, in the following Oct., he removed to the Spartan 38, Capt. Phipps Hornby. Quitting that ship in July, 1816, he next, until the receipt of his first commission, dated 17 March, 1821, served on the Channel, Mediterranean, and Cork stations, in the Madagascar and Maeander[11] frigates, both commanded by Capt. Sir Jas. Alex. Gordon, Ganymede 26, Capts. Wm. M‘Culloch and Hon. Robt. Cavendish Spencer, Wasp sloop, Capt. Wm. Woolridge, Hyperion 42, Capt. Thos. Searle, Newcastle 60, Capt. Arthur Fanshawe, Cadmus and Brisk sloops, each under the orders of Capt. Jas. Montagu, Spencer 74, flagship of Sir Josias Rowley, and, as Acting-Lieutenant, in the Sappho sloop, Capt. Jas. Hanway Plumridge. On the date of his official promotion, as above, Mr. Martin was nominated Flag-Lieutenant, in the Queen Charlotte 100, to Admiral Sir Jas. Hawkins Whitshed, Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth. Obtaining a second promotal commission in consequence, 24 April, 1824, he assumed command, 17 April, 1827, of the Musquito 10, and, returning to the Mediterranean, was afforded an opportunity of sharing, 20 Oct. following, in the battle of Navarin. His conduct on that occasion procured him the honours above indicated, and was the cause of his being advanced (as soon as he had served the necessary time as Commander) to Post-rank, 19 April, 1828. His next appointments were, 17 April, 1833, and 31 Oct. 1835, to the Volage 28, and Caledonia 120, flag-ship of Sir Josias Rowley, both in the Mediterranean, whence he returned in the autumn of 1837. He has been in command, since 4 Nov. 1844, of the Eagle 50; in which ship he at first conveyed Rear-Admiral Sam. Hood Inglefield to the south-east coast of America, was then employed in North America and the West Indies, and is now engaged in the performance of a particular service.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1797, p. 446.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1800, p. 297.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1800, p. 1156.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1800, p. 1155.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1805, p. 982.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1809, pp. 1410, 1437.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1809, pp. 1901-2.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1810, p. 1834.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1814, pp. 1320-3.
- ↑ He was reappointed Vice-Admiral of the U.K. 21 July 1837.
- ↑ The Maeander, during a violent gale, struck upon a shoal off Orfordness, and was all but lost, 19 Dec. 1816.
