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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bain, Henderson

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1630524A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Bain, HendersonWilliam Richard O'Byrne

BAIN. (Rear-Admiral, 1846. f-p., 21; h-p., 33.)

Henderson Bain entered the Navy, 4 Sept. 1793, as A.B., on board the Triton 32, Capt. Geo. Murray, on the Home station, where, during nearly the whole of the war, he continued to serve, in La Nymphe 36, Capt. Geo. Losack, Atlas 98, Capts. Edm. Dod, Matthew Squire, and Theophilus Jones, Royal George 100, bearing the flag of Lord Bridport, and Excellent 74, Capts. Hon. Robt. Stopford and John Nash. While in the latter ship, of which he was confirmed a Lieutenant 22 Jan. 1800, Mr. Bain, in the course of the same year, succeeded, with the boats under his orders, in cutting out three large brigs near Abervrach, on the coast of France.[1] From the summer of 1802, when he returned from a visit to the West Indies, until Dec. 1808, we next find him serving, chiefly with Capt. (latterly Rear-Admiral) Stopford, in the Spencer 74, and participating during that period, as Second Lieutenant, in the action off St. Domingo, 6 Feb. 1806, and, as Senior, in the bombardment of Copenhagen, in Sept. 1807. In Aug. 1809, after an interval of half-pay, he rejoined Admiral Stopford in the Scipion 74; and, on ultimately proceeding to the Cape of Good Hope, was there promoted to the command, 29 March, 1811, of the Harpy sloop, part of the force employed at the ensuing reduction of Java. He ultimately became Acting-Captain, 26 Jan. 1812, of the Lion 64, bearing the flag of his friend Admiral Stopford, but was not confirmed until 6 April, 1813, a few weeks previously to which period he had rejoined the Harpy. In the following Aug. he was again appointed to the Lion, flagship at the time of Rear-Admiral Chas. Tyler, in which he came home, and was paid off 24 May, 1814. He has not since been employed. He was invested with his present rank 1 Oct. 1846.

Rear-Admiral Bain married, 3 April, 1821, Sarah, eldest daughter of the Rev. Wm. Haggitt, Chaplain of Chelsea Hospital.


  1. Vide Gaz. 1800, p. 1227.