A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Rich, Henry
RICH. (Retired Commander, 1846. f-p., 13; h-p., 33.)
Henry Rich, born in March, 1787, is second son of Robt. Rich, Esq., of Orchardley Park, co. Somerset.
This officer entered the Navy, 7 March, 1801, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Diligence sloop, Capts. Rich. Jones and Alex. Robt. Kerr; and in Aug. of the same year was present as Midshipman in Lord Nelson’s attack upon the Boulogne flotilla. He continued in the Diligence, on the Home station, until transferred, in Nov. 1804, to the Defiance 74, Capt. Philip Chas. Durham. In that ship, in the course of 1805, he fought in Sir Robt. Calder’s action, assisted under Admiral Hon. Wm. Cornwallis in driving the French fleet into Brest, and partook of the glories of Trafalgar. After serving for two years and a half with Capts. Durham and Thos. Alexander in the Renown 74, off Rochefort, L’Orient, and Toulon, he was nominated, 13 July, 1808, Acting-Lieutenant of the Atlas 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral John Child Purvis at Gibraltar. On 26 Nov. following he was confirmed into the Grasshopper 18, Capt. Henry Fanshawe, on the Mediterranean station, where he remained until April, 1810. In the ensuing Sept. he joined the St. Albans 64, Capt. Edw. Brace, and, in Feb. 1811, the Druid 32, Capts. Sir Thos. Louis, John Williams, Thos. Searle, and Fras. Stanfell. In both ships he was employed at the defence of Cadiz; and in the Druid, in which he continued until Oct. 1812, he aided also at the defence of Tarifa. His last appointments were – in June, 1814, to the Madagascar 38, Capts. Bentinck Cavendish Doyle and Fras. Stanfell, on the North American station – and, in Oct. 1815, to the Phaeton 38, Capt. F. Stanfell, lying at Sheerness. He was placed on half-pay in Dec. 1815; and invested with his present rank 3 Nov. 1846. Agents – Collier and Snee.