A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Dent, Digby
DENT. (Commander, 1820. f-p., 16; h-p., 26.)
Digby Dent is son of the late Commander Digby Dent, R.N., who died in command of H.M.S. Saturn, 15 Nov. 1798; grandson of Admiral Sir Digby Dent; and brother of the present Commander C. C. Dent, and of the late Arthur Philip Dent, Esq., Purser, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 31 March, 1805, as Midshipman, on board the Achille 74, commanded by the late Sir Rich. King; under whom he served at the battle of Trafalgar, 21 Oct. 1805, witnessed Sir Sam. Hood’s capture of four French frigates off Rochefort, 25 Sept. 1806, and co-operated in the reduction of Flushing in Aug. 1809. In the early part of 1811 he accompanied his Captain into the San Josef 110, flag-ship in the Mediterranean of Sir Chas. Cotton, in which he continued until promoted, 6 Feb. 1812, to a Lieutenancy in the Royal Sovereign 100, Capt. Wm. Bedford, stationed in the Channel. In April, 1813, Mr. Dent rejoined Sir R. King in the San Josef; and, from March, 1815, to March, 1816, he next served in the St. George and Impregnable, flag-ships at Plymouth of Sir John Thos. Duckworth. He then removed to the Minden 74, Capt. Wm. Paterson, with whom, after sharing in the battle of Algiers, he proceeded to the East Indies; where, from March to July, 1817, he acted as Captain of the Conway frigate. On the latter date he returned to the Minden as Flag-Lieutenant to his patron Sir R. King. Since his last promotion, which took place 30 Oct. 1820, Commander Dent has been unemployed.
He married, in 1821, a daughter of Colonel Hawker.