A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Garrett, Henry (a)
GARRETT. (Vice-Admiral of the White, 1840. f-p., 46; h-p., 15.)
Henry Garrett was born in 1774, and died 11 April, 1846. He was son, we believe, of the late Daniel Garrett, Esq., of Portsmouth; and uncle of the present Capt. John Brett Purvis, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 14 Nov. 1785, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Trimmer sloop, Capt. Chas. Tyler, on the Irish station; and, during the after-part of the peace, served, chiefly as Midshipman, in the Hebe frigate, Capt. Edw. Thornbrough, Bellona 74, Capt. Fras. John Hartwell, Hebe, again, Capt. Alex. Hood, and Romney 50, bearing the flag in the Mediterranean of Rear-Admiral Sam. Cranston Goodall. Being promoted, under the latter officer, to a Lieutenancy, 24 June, 1793, in the Princess Royal 98, he served on shore at the occupation of Toulon, assisted at the reduction of Corsica, and participated in the actions of 13 March and 14 July, 1795; after which he successively assumed command of the Vésuve and Trial; and in the latter vessel, a cutter of 12 guns, took, near Portland, 25 July, 1797, a French brig privateer, Le Courrier de Mer, of similar force,[1] besides energetically contributing, off Havre, to the destruction, 1 May, 1798, of La Confiante frigate, and a republican cutter.[2] He was promoted to the command, 27 Dec. 1798, of the Alecto fire-ship; afterwards commanded the Calypso sloop, and Puissant hulk; attained Post-rank 16 Sept. 1799; officiated as Captain, during the early part of the peace of Amiens, of the Texel 64, and Endymion 40; and from 21 Sept. 1805, until 1 Aug. 1808, commanded the Kent 74, and also the Ville de Paris and Royal Sovereign, flag-ships of Vice-Admiral Thornbrough. On 31 Dec. in the latter year Capt. Garrett was appointed Agent for Victualling at Deptford, where he continued until nominated Governor, 24 Feb. 1820, of Haslar Hospital. The latter appointment he held until April, 1838. He was created a Rear-Admiral 6 Oct. 1833, and a Vice-Admiral 12 Nov. 1840.
By his wife, who died 26 Aug. 1812, he had issue. His eldest son died Acting-Lieutenant of the Curlew, at Bombay, in Nov. 1819; and another son, in the Hon.E.I.C.’s Civil service, married, 29 June, 1835, Sarah, third daughter of Capt. John Clavell, R.N.