A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Martin, George
MARTIN, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., K.S.J. (Admiral of the Fleet, f-p., 32; h-p., 39.)
Sir George Martin died 28 July, 1847, at his house in Berkeley Square, in the 83rd year of his age. He was third and youngest son of the late Capt. Wm. Martin, R.N., by Arabella, daughter of Sir Wm. Rowley, K.B., Admiral of the Fleet, and sister of Rear-Admiral Sir Joshua Rowley, the first Baronet of that name, father of the late Admiral Sir Chas. Rowley, Bart., G.C.B., G.C.H., and father-in-law of Admiral Sir Chas. Cotton, Bart. His grandfather, Bennet Martin, was a M.D.; one of his grand-uncles, Wm. Martin, died Admiral of the Fleet in 1756; and another, Roger Martin, also an Admiral, died in 1780. Sir George was brother of the present Wm. Martin, Esq., of Hemingston, co. Suffolk; and uncle of the present Capt. Geo. Bohun Martin, R.N., C.B. His mother married, a second time. Colonel Gibbs, of Horseley Park, Sussex, father of Major-General Sir Sam. Gibbs, K.C.B., who fell at New Orleans 8 Jan. 1815, and of Major-General Sir Edw. Gibbs, Governor of Jersey, and Colonel of the 68th Regt.
This officer (whose name had been borne from 13 Dec. 1771 until 30 April, 1774, on the books of the Mary yacht) embarked, 20 Nov. 1776, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Monarch 64, commanded by his uncle Capt. Joshua Rowley, and was present as Midshipman of that ship in Keppel’s action with the Comte d’Orvilliers 27 July, 1778. On next joining the Suffolk 74, Capt. Hugh Cloberry Christian, he was afforded an opportunity of sharing in Byron’s action with d’Estaing 6 July, 1779; and on 16 July, 1780, after having participated in three actions fought in the preceding months of April and May between Rodney and De Guychen, and been for short periods employed in the Camelion, Rover, and Alert sloops, Capts. Thos. Watson, John Thos. Duckworth, and Jas. Vashon, he was made Lieutenant into the Russel 74, Capt. Robt. Hanwell. His succeeding appointments, it appears, were, to the Princess Royal 98, Capt. J. T. Duckworth, Ulysses 44, Capt. John Thomas, and Sandwich, Capt. Silverius Moriarty. He was promoted, 9 March, 1782, to the command of the Tobago sloop; and on 17 March, 1783, was posted into the Preston 50. In April, 1784, Capt. Martin, whose services had hitherto been on the West India station, returned to England. He was subsequently appointed – 9 July, 1789, to the Porcupine 24, employed off the coast of Ireland until Aug. 1792 – 12 March, 1793, to the Magicienne 32, in the West Indies – 9 Nov. 1795, to the Irresistible 74 – 15 July, 1798, to the Northumberland 74 – and (after eight months of half-pay) 22 May, 1803, and 24 April and 21 Nov. 1804, to the Colossus 74, and Glory and Barfleur 98’s, on the Channel station. In the Irresistible Capt. Martin bore a conspicuous part in the battle off Cape St. Vincent 14 Feb. 1797, and towards the close of the action hoisted the broad pendant of Commodore Nelson, whose ship, the Captain, was completely disabled.[1] His conduct on the occasion procured him a gold medal and the thanks of Parliament. On 26 April in the same year the Irresistible, in company with the Emerald 36, pursued into Conil Bay, near Trafalgar, and, at the end of an hour’s engagement, succeeded in effecting the capture of the Spanish frigates 'Ninfa' and Santa Elena of 34 guns and 320 men each. The latter vessel, as soon as she had struck, cut her cable and ran on shore; her crew effecting their escape. Although eventually got off, she was found in too damaged a state to be kept afloat; and she accordingly went down. Part of the Ninfa’s crew also effected their escape to the shore. The loss sustained by the two frigates amounted to about 18 killed and 30 wounded: that of the Irresistible to 1 man killed and 1 wounded. The skill exhibited by Capt. Martin in having rounded a dangerous reef of rocks, called the Laja de Cape Rocha, a little to the northward of Conil, and his decision in the ensuing attack, were declared by Earl St. Vincent to have displayed one of the most notable actions that had ever come under his observation.[2] In Feb. 1800 we find Capt. Martin, then in command of the Northumberland, acquiring the approbation of Lord Nelson for his alacrity and good conduct at the capture of the French 74-gun ship Généreux;[3] and in the ensuing May succeeding Capt. Troubridge in the command of the blockading squadron before Malta. In the month of Aug. the Diane and Justice frigates made their escape from the harbour of Valetta, but not unperceived by the Northumberland, who, joining the Success 32, went in immediate chase and contrived to capture the Diane.[4] On 5 Sept. in the same year Capt. Martin, whose perseverance in the discharge of his blockading duties had been unremitting, had the honour of signing the capitulation in virtue of which the important island of Malta became annexed to the Crown of England.[5] He afterwards, in 1801, accompanied the expedition under Lord Keith and Sir Ralph Abercromby to Egypt, where his activity and exertions a second time caused his being included in the thanks of Parliament. In April 1804 he was nominated a Colonel of Marines; and on 22 July, 1805, at which period, as above shown, he was in command of the Barfleur, he distinguished himself in Sir Robt. Calder’s action with Admiral Villeneuve.[6] Attaining Flag-rank 9 Nov. 1805, Rear-Admiral Martin, on 17 Jan, 1806, was appointed second in command at Portsmouth, where, with his flag in the Gladiator 50, he remained for a period of 10 months – during, we believe, the absence of Sir Isaac Coffin on Admiralty leave. In May 1807 he proceeded, in the Cumberland 74, off Cadiz, for the purpose of watching the enemy’s ships in the harbour; after which, entering the Mediterranean, he continued on that station, with his flag in the Montagu 74, Queen 98, and Canopus 80, until some months subsequent to his promotion, 31 July, 1810, to the rank of Vice-Admiral. At first, he was employed off the coast of Italy, and in protecting Sicily from the hostile designs of the French; and in June, 1809, he took possession of the islands of Ischia and Procida.[7] On the night of 23 Oct. 1809, being at the time off Cape St. Sebastian in the Canopus, the Rear-Admiral was detached by Lord Collingwood with eight of his best sailing ships (two of which accidentally parted company) in pursuit of a division of the enemy’s fleet, consisting of three ships of the line and two frigates. By noon on the 25th his intrepid perseverance had compelled the Robuste 80 and Lion 74, to run themselves on shore, within pistol-shot of each other, at a spot about six miles north-east of the harbour of Cette, and near to the village of Frontignan; and had induced the Borée 74, and Pauline frigate to seek refuge in Cette harbour, although it scarcely contained depth sufficient to float them. The two former ships were fired and blown up by their own crews.[8] In the summer of 1810, Vice-Admiral Martin returned to his station off Sicily, and while there was presented with the Order of St. Januarius by the King of Naples, as a mark of his Majesty’s approbation of the essential and zealous services rendered by him to that kingdom. We may add that the cordial and friendly co-operation he at all times afforded the troops, did not fail to call forth the public thanks of the military commander Lieut.-General Sir John Stuart, K.B.[9] In May, 1812, being appointed to the chief command on the Lisbon station, he hoisted his flag on board the Impétueux 74, and sailed for his destination, where he remained, latterly with his flag in the Sabrina frigate and Rodney 74, until June, 1814; about which period he received the honour of knighthood in commemoration of the King’s visit to the fleet at Spithead.[10] In Jan. 1815, he was created a K.C.B.; in Feb. 1821, a G.C.B.; and on 19 July in the latter year an Admiral of the Blue. His last appointment was, 27 March, 1824, to the post of Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth; where his flag, which had been flying the whole time in the Victory, was struck 30 April, 1827. Sir Geo. Martin was raised to the dignity of Admiral of the Fleet 9 Nov. 1846. He had been successively constituted Rear and Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom in Jan. 1833 and April, 1834;[11] and a G.C.M.G. in 1836.
He married, first, 3 April, 1804, the youngest daughter of the late Capt. John Albert Bentinck, R.N. (by Renira, Baroness de Twyell de Cerooskerken), sister of Vice-Admiral Wm. Bentinck (who married the only daughter of the first Earl Manvers and died 21 Feb. 1813), sister-in-law of Sir Jas. Hawkins Whitshed, Bart., G.C.B., Admiral of the Fleet, and grand-niece of the first Duke of Portland. That lady dying 15 Oct. 1806, he married a second time, 2 June, 1815, Miss A. Locke, daughter of Wm. Locke, Esq. of Norbury Park, co. Surrey. He was again left a widower 1 Mar. 1842.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1797, p. 212.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1797, p. 446.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1800, p. 297.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1800, p. 1156.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1800, p. 1155.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1805, p. 982.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1809, pp. 1410, 1437.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1809, pp. 1901-2.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1810, p. 1834.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1814, pp. 1320-3.
- ↑ He was reappointed Vice-Admiral of the U.K. 21 July 1837.