A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Preston, Henry
PRESTON. (Commander, 1830. f-p., 13- h-p., 33.)
Henry Preston is second and youngest son of Sir Robt. Preston, Bart., by his cousin, Euphemia, daughter of John Preston, Esq., of Gorton. His brother, Robert, is an officer of rank in the Army. This officer entered the Navy, in March, 1801, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Invincible 74, Capt. John Rennie, which ship, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Thos. Totty, struck on 16 of the same month, on the Hasborough Sand, near Yarmouth, and was lost with about 400 of her crew. With Rear-Admiral Totty Mr. Preston continued employed on the Baltic, Channel, and West India stations, in the Zealous and Saturn 74’s, until the summer of 1802. He next, in May, 1803, joined the Isis 50, bearing the flag of the late Lord Gambier at Newfoundland, where he remained until Feb. 1805. After a further servitude, on the Home and Mediterranean stations, in the Pomone 40, and Captain 74, both commanded by Capt. Wm. Grenville Lobb, Royal George 100, flag-ship of Sir John Thos. Duckworth (under whom he passed the Dardanells), and Ville de Paris 110 and Caledonia 120, both flag-ships of Lord Gambier, he was nominated, 1 Nov. 1808, Acting-Lieutenant of the Triumph 74, Capts. Sir Thos. Masterman Hardy and Sam. Hood Linzee, employed at first in the Channel and afterwards off Cadiz and Ferrol. He was confirmed to that ship 18 Nov. 1809; and subsequently appointed – 15 Nov. and 17 Dec. 1810, to the Valiant 74, Capt. Robt. Dudley Oliver, and Caledonia 120, flag-ship of Sir Harry Burrard Neale, both in the Channel 3 June, 1811, to the Impétueux 74, Capts. John Lawford, David Milne, and Chas. Inglis, in which ship he served in the Baltic, off Lisbon, and among the Western Islands, part of the time under the flag of Vice-Admiral Geo. Martin, until Sept. 1812 – 1 Oct. 1814, for about 12 months, to the Daphne 22, Capt. Jas. Green – 25 April, 1816, to the Rivoli 74, Capts. Chas. Ogle and Aiskew Paffard Hollis, lying at Portsmouth, where he was paid off 18 Feb. 1817 – and 12 May, 1827, to the Revenge 76, Capt. Norborne Thompson, with whom he served for a short period at the same place. He attained his present rank 22 July, 1830; and has since been on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.