Royal Naval Biography/Spencer-Churchill, Henry John
RIGHT HONORABLE
LORD HENRY JOHN SPENCER CHURCHILL.
[Post-Captain of 1826.]
Youngest son of the present Duke of Marlborough, by Lady Susan, daughter of John, seventh Earl of Galloway.
This officer was born Sept. 22d, 1797; and we first find him serving as midshipman, on board the Glasgow frigate. Captain the Hon. Henry Duncan, C.B., in 1815. He was made a lieutenant into the Amphion 38, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore William Bowles, on the South American station, July 14th, 1818; appointed to the Martin sloop, Captain Christopher C. Askew, May 22d, 1821; promoted to the command of the Hind 20, on the Mediterranean station, April 25th, 1823; advanced to the rank of captain, Aug. 4th, 1826; and appointed to the Tweed 28, fitting out for the Cape of Good Hope station. May 18th, 1827.
In October following, Lord Henry touched at St Iago; and many days had not elapsed after his departure from that island before five of his midshipmen, their schoolmaster, and a servant, fell victims to brain fever, supposed to have been produced by sleeping on shore; among these unfortunate young gentlemen was a son of Captain George Aldham R.N. The Tweed returned home Jan. 21st, 1831, and was paid off, at Portsmouth, on the 9th of the ensuing month. His lordship married a daughter of John Bennet, Esq., M.P. for Wiltshire.
Agents.– Messrs. Barnett and King.
RIGHT HON. LORD HENRY JOHN SPENCER CHURCHILL.
(Vol. III. Part I. p. 285.)
This officer entered the royal navy in April 1811, as midshipman on board the Revenge 74, Captain John Nash, under whom and his successor, Captain Charles P. B. Bateman, he served on the Cadiz station till July 9th, 1812. He then joined the Alfred 74, Captain Joshua Sydney Horton; and soon afterwards the Superb, third rate, in which latter ship, successively commanded by Captains the Hon. (now Sir Charles) Paget, Alexander Gordon, James Garland, and Humphrey F. Senhouse, on the Channel and North American stations, he continued until May 22d, 1815. We subsequently find him serving under the Hon. (now Sir Henry) Duncan and Captain Robert Preston, in the Glasgow and Euphrates, frigates, on the Channel and Mediterranean stations. He passed his examination for lieutenant on the 4th June, 1817; at which period he had been exactly six years and two months in constant active employment. On the 3d Nov. following, he was appointed mate of the Andromache 44, Captain W. H. Shirreff, fitting out for the South American station, where he was removed into the Amphion 38, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Bowles, April 1st, 1818. His first commission, appointing him lieutenant of the latter ship, bears date July 14th, 1818. Although advanced to the rank of commander on the 25th April, 1823, he continued in the Martin[1], under Captain Henry Eden, until Sept. 19th following, from which period he commanded the Hind until Aug. 20th, 1825.
Lord Henry is still a bachelor. It was his brother who married the lady mentioned in p. 286 of Vol. III. Part I.