Royal Naval Biography/Layton, Henry
HENRY LAYTON, Esq.
[Commander.]
Is the second son of the Rev. Thomas Layton, M.A., vicar of Chigwell and Theydon Bois, in Essex, and a magistrate for that county. He was born on the 2d Feb. 1799; and entered the royal navy. May 3d, 1812, as midshipman on board the Barfleur 98, bearing the flag of the Hon. G. C. Berkeley, and commanded by Captain (now Sir Thomas M.) Hardy, on the Lisbon station, from whence he accompanied the latter officer, in the Ramillies 74, to North America, where he was present at the performance of many important services. During the operations against New Orleans, he was employed in a boat at the attack and capture of six gun-vessels, in Lac Borgne, an exploit already recorded in our memoir of Captain Nicholas Lockyer[1]. He afterwards visited Jamaica; and, subsequent to the cessation of hostilities, was successively appointed to the Malta 84, Captain (now Vice-Admiral) Sir Charles Ogle; Rivoli 74, Captain (now Rear-Admiral) A. P. Hollis; and Rosario sloop, Captain Thomas L. Peake. In Jan. 1819, he again joined Sir Thomas M. Hardy, then about to display a broad pendant on the South American station; and on the 2d Nov. 1821, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He next served under Captain (now Sir Thomas) Dundas, in the Bulwark 76, stationed as a guard-ship in Hamoaze.
This officer was made a commander on the 10th June, 1825, in consequence of the death of his brother, Lieutenant Thomas Layton, R.N., who had then been recently murdered by a horde of pirates in the West Indies, to suppress whose depredations he was then using every gallant and zealous effort. Commander Layton is now, we believe, employed in the coast guard service, at Killybegs, Ireland.