A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hood, Arthur William Acland
HOOD. (Lieutenant, 1846.)
Arthur William Acland Hood, born 14 July, 1824, is second son of Sir Alex. Hood, Bart., of Tidlake, co. Surrey, by Amelia Anne, youngest daughter and co-heir of Sir Hugh Bateman, Bart., of Hartington Hall, co. Derby; grandson of the gallant Capt. Alex. Hood, R.N., who accompanied Capt. Cook in one of his voyages round the world, and, after much distinguished service, fell in command of the Mars 74, during a tremendous yard-arm-and-yard-arm conflict which preceded the surrender to the latter ship of the French 74 L’Hercule, 21 April, 1798; and grand-nephew of that excellent officer, the late Vice-Admiral Sir Sam. Hood, K.B., K.F.M.[1] His elder and only brother, Alex. Bateman Periam Hood, is a Lieutenant in the Royal Horse Guards.
This officer passed his examination 2 Aug. 1843; and, after serving for nearly two years, as Mate, in the Excellent gunnery-ship, at Portsmouth, Capt. Sir Thos. Hastings, and for a short time in the President 50, fitting for the flag of Rear-Admiral Jas. Rich. Dacres, was promoted to the rank he now holds 9 Jan. 1846. He was then re-appointed to the President, in the capacity of Additional-Lieutenant, and is at present serving in her at the Cape of Good Hope.
- ↑ Sir Samuel Hood was born in 1762, and entered the Navy at the age of 14, on board the Courageux 74, commanded by his father’s first-cousin, the first Viscount Hood. He commanded the Renard sloop on the glorious 12 April, 1782; and in 1784 he was advanced, for his services, to Post-rank. In Dec. 1793, being then in the Juno frigate, he entered Toulon, unapprized of its evacuation, but succeeded, with consummate skill and presence of mind, in effecting his escape. He was next employed at the reduction of Corsica, and in command of a small squadron in the Archipelago. As Captain of the Zealous 74, he accompanied Nelson to Teneriffe in 1797, and fought with him at the Nile, where he captured Le Guerrier 74, and, until called off by signal, was singly in combat with four French ships. His valour on the occasion procured him the thanks of Parliament, and a sword from the City of London. In 1799 his conduct in expelling the French from Naples was acknowledged with the order of St. Ferdinand and Merit from the King of the Two Sicilies. He subsequently commanded the Courageux 74, in Sir John Borlase Warren’s expedition to Ferrol; enacted a conspicuous part in the Venerable 74, in Sir James Saumarez’ actions of 6 and 12 July, 1801, off Algeciras and in the Gut of Gibraltar; and in 1803, on being appointed Commodore of the West India squadron, with his broad pendant in the Centaur 74, won the distinction of a K.B. for his capture of the Dutch settlements of Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice. In Sept. 1806, being still in the Centaur, and in command of a squadron off Rochefort, Sir Samuel Hood made prize of four heavy French frigates. Having on that occasion lost his right arm, he was awarded, in consideration of the wound and of his numerous services, a pension of 500l. In 1807 he was elected M.P. for Westminster, and in the ensuing Oct., on his return with Lord Gambier from Copenhagen, he was promoted to Flag-rank. In Dec. of the same year we find him obtaining possession, with Major-General Beresford, of the island of Madeira; and next, when in company with the Implacable 74, effecting the destruction, in Aug. 1808, of the 74-gun ship Sewolod, after a close and furious conflict fought in sight of the whole Russian fleet near Rogerswick. In 1809 he received the thanks of Parliament for his services at Corunna. He was created a Baronet on 13 of the following April; and on 24 Dec. 1814, a few months after his assumption of the rank of Vice-Admiral, died, on the East India station, where he had been appointed Commander-in-Chief.