Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/163

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FRANCIS.
159

at the same time assuring his majesty, he would never prove himself unworthy of the former honours he had received, by ending the remnant of a long life as a pensioner, or accepting of a peerage obtained by political arrangements. His gracious master applauded his manly spirit, ever after continued him in his high military honours, and to the day of his death, condescended to shew him strong marks of his regard.

In the year 1770, he was advanced to be admiral of the white; and, on the death of Lord Hawke, in 1781, succeeded that nobleman as admiral of the fleet. He continued to live totally in retirement, rendered truly honourable by his former faithful and most perfect discharge of all private and public duties, whether considered as an officer, or as a man, dying at the advanced age of eighty two, on the 10th of March, 1796, respected, revered, and lamented by all.



JOHN FORBES,

Governor of the Bahama Islands, was a barrister of considerable eminence, and also a distinguished member of the Irish Parliament, in the records of which, many eloquent speeches of his are to be found. In the Whig Club of Ireland, and in all it's measures, he took an eminent lead. Having attached himself to the Duke of Portland, when his grace became connected with the administration, he was appointed a privy counsellor of Ireland, and afterwards governor of the Bahama islands. He died, June 13, 1797, at Nassau, in New Providence.



PHILIP FRANCIS,

The able translator of Horace and Demosthenes, was of Irish extraction, and is generally supposed to have been born in that kingdom, where his father was a dignified clergyman, and, among other preferments, held the rectory of St. Mary, Dublin, from which he was ejected by