A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Codrington, Henry John
CODRINGTON, C.B., K.S.V., K.L.H., K.R.G. (Captain, 1836. f-p., 17; h-p., 7.)
Henry John Codrington, born 17 Oct. 1808, is son of Admiral Sir Edw. Codrington, G.C.B.
This officer entered the Navy, 21 Feb. 1823, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Apollo, at Portsmouth; joined, 26 July following, the Sybille 46, Capt. Sam. John Brooke Pechell, lying at Deptford; and, on 24 Aug. in the same year, was appointed Midshipman of the Naiad 46, Capt. Hon. Robt. Cavendish Spencer, in which frigate he assisted at the blockade of Algiers in 1824. Having removed, in Oct. 1826, to the Asia 84, bearing the flag of his father, he took part and was severely wounded at the battle of Navarin, 20 Oct. 1827;[1] after which he became attached, in succession, to the Warspite 76, Capt. Wm. Parker, and Madagascar 46, Capt. Hon. Sir R. C. Spencer, and was promoted, 12 June 1829, to a Lieutenancy in the Victory 104, Capt. Hon. Geo. Elliot, at Portsmouth. Until advanced to the rank of Commander, 20 Oct. 1831, Mr. Codrington’s further appointments were – 10 Aug. 1829, to the Prince Regent 120, flag-ship at the Nore of Hon. Sir Henry Blackwood – 22 April, 1830, to the Briton 46, Capt. John Duff Markland, employed on Particular service – and, 9 June, 1831, as Flag-Lieutenant, to the Caledonia 120, flag-ship in the Channel of Sir Edw. Codrington. He subsequently, on 6 June, 1834, obtained command of the Orestes 18, in which sloop he appears to have served on the Mediterranean station until shortly after his elevation to Post rank, 20 Jan. 1836. being next appointed, 12 March, 1838, to the command of the Talbot 28, the subject of this notice returned to the latter station, where, in Nov. 1840, he superintended conjointly with Capt. Edw. Boxer the task of sounding and buoying off the channels leading to the batteries of St. Jean d’Acre, for his ultimate share in the destruction of which fortress he was nominated a C.B. 18 Dec. following.[2] From 13 March, 1841, until 31 Dec. 1842, he afterwards officiated as Flag-Captain, in the Queen 110, and St. Vincent 120, to his father, then Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth. Since 14 Oct. 1846 he has been in command of the Thetis 36.
Capt. Codrington[3] is a Knight of the Russian, French, and Greek orders of the 4th class of St. Vladamir, the Legion of Honour, and Redeemer of Greece.