Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Medley, Henry
MEDLEY, HENRY (d. 1747), vice-admiral, entered the navy in 1703; was in 1706 a midshipman of the Somerset with Captain Price at the relief of Barcelona; passed his examination on 8 Feb. 1709–10 (passing certificate); and on 5 Sept. 1710 was promoted by Sir John Norris [q. v.] to be lieutenant of the Fame, from which a few months later he was moved into the Stirling Castle. In 1717 he was a lieutenant of the Barfleur, flagship of Sir George Byng in the Baltic. Early in 1720 he was promoted to the command of the Poole fire-ship, and on 17 Feb. 1720–1 was posted into the York. In 1722, while commanding the Leopard in the Mediterranean, he seized a ship named the Revolution, lying within the mole of Genoa, on information of her being in the service of the pretender. He afterwards commanded the Leopard on the coast of Portugal and in the Channel till the end of 1728. From 1731 to 1735 he was employed on the home station; in 1741 he commanded the Nassau in the Channel fleet under Sir John Norris, and in 1742–3–4 was with Norris as captain of the fleet. On 19 June 1744 he was promoted to be rear-admiral of the white, and in the following winter commanded a squadron cruising in the Soundings for the protection of trade. On 23 April 1745 he was promoted to be vice-admiral, and sent out as commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean. The service was one of blockade and co-operation with the allied armies, who in the winter of 1746–7, having driven the French out of Italy, invaded Provence; but, after an unsuccessful attack on Antibes, were obliged to retire. On 15 July 1747 Medley was advanced to be vice-admiral of the red, but died, probably in ignorance of his latest promotion, on board the Russell, at Vado, on 5 Aug. 1747. His portrait, by John Ellys, has been engraved by John Faber, junior.
[Charnock's Biog. Nav. iv. 93; commission and warrant books and other documents in the Public Record Office.]