Robert Digby (Royal Navy officer)
Encyclopedia
Admiral Robert Digby (December 20, 1732 – February 25, 1815) was an officer in the Royal Navy
officer who also served briefly as an Member of Parliament
(MP).
. He entered the navy aged twelve or thirteen, and became Captain of HMS Solebay at the age of 23 in 1755, rising to Second-in-Command of the Channel Fleet
in 1779. He was appointed in 1781 as Admiral of the Red and given the command of the North American Station.
After the surrender of New York city
in 1783, Digby helped to organise the evacuation of some 1,500 United Empire Loyalists
to the small port of Conway
in Nova Scotia
. The settlement he led transformed the tiny village into a town, which in 1787 was renamed Digby. The town's museum was also named the Admiral Digby Museum
in his honour.
He was recalled to home waters in 1787, was promoted to Admiral of the Blue, and retired from the navy in 1794.
(in the peerage of Ireland
), and on the death in 1752 of the 5th Baron
, the title passed to the admiral's oldest brother Edward
. When Edward died in 1757, the title was inherited by their brother Henry
, and Robert was elected to succeed Edward as MP for Wells
in Somerset
, holding the seat from 1757 to 1761. (Because the family's title was in the peerage of Ireland, it did not confer a seat in the House of Lords
, and did not disqualify the holder from election to he British House of Commons
).
He married Eleanor Jauncey (née Elliot), daughter of Andrew Elliot, Lieutenant-Governor of New York. They had no children.
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Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
officer who also served briefly as an Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP).
Naval career
Digby was the third son of Charlotte Fox and the Hon. Edward Digby (1714–1746), eldest son of William Digby, 5th Baron DigbyWilliam Digby, 5th Baron Digby
William Digby, 5th Baron Digby was a British peer and Member of Parliament.Digby was a younger son of Kildare Digby, 2nd Baron Digby, and Mary Gardiner. In 1686 he succeeded his elder brother as fifth Baron Digby. This was an Irish peerage and did not entitle him to a seat in the English House of...
. He entered the navy aged twelve or thirteen, and became Captain of HMS Solebay at the age of 23 in 1755, rising to Second-in-Command of the Channel Fleet
Channel Fleet
The Channel Fleet was the Royal Navy formation of warships that defended the waters of the English Channel from 1690 to 1909.-History:The Channel Fleet dates back at least to 1690 when its role was to defend England against the French threat under the leadership of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of...
in 1779. He was appointed in 1781 as Admiral of the Red and given the command of the North American Station.
After the surrender of New York city
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1783, Digby helped to organise the evacuation of some 1,500 United Empire Loyalists
United Empire Loyalists
The name United Empire Loyalists is an honorific given after the fact to those American Loyalists who resettled in British North America and other British Colonies as an act of fealty to King George III after the British defeat in the American Revolutionary War and prior to the Treaty of Paris...
to the small port of Conway
Digby, Nova Scotia
Digby is a Canadian town in western Nova Scotia. It is the shiretown and largest population centre in Digby County.The town is situated on the western shore of the Annapolis Basin near the entrance to the Digby Gut which connects the basin to the Bay of Fundy.Named after Admiral Robert Digby, RN,...
in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. The settlement he led transformed the tiny village into a town, which in 1787 was renamed Digby. The town's museum was also named the Admiral Digby Museum
Admiral Digby Museum
The Admiral Digby Museum is a museum located in Digby, Nova Scotia exploring the history of Digby the surrounding communities of Digby County. It is housed in a restored Georgian style house facing Digby Harbour known as the Woodrow/Dakin House, one of the oldest buildings in Digby. The museum is...
in his honour.
He was recalled to home waters in 1787, was promoted to Admiral of the Blue, and retired from the navy in 1794.
Family
His father died before inheriting the family's title, Baron DigbyBaron Digby
Baron Digby, of Geashill in the King's County, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1620 for Robert Digby, Governor of King's County. He was the nephew of John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol. Lord Digby's grandson, the third Baron, and the latter's younger brothers the fourth and...
(in the peerage of Ireland
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
), and on the death in 1752 of the 5th Baron
William Digby, 5th Baron Digby
William Digby, 5th Baron Digby was a British peer and Member of Parliament.Digby was a younger son of Kildare Digby, 2nd Baron Digby, and Mary Gardiner. In 1686 he succeeded his elder brother as fifth Baron Digby. This was an Irish peerage and did not entitle him to a seat in the English House of...
, the title passed to the admiral's oldest brother Edward
Edward Digby, 6th Baron Digby
Edward Digby, 6th Baron Digby was a British peer and Member of Parliament.Digby was the son of Hon. Edward Digby, son of William Digby, 5th Baron Digby. His mother was Charlotte Fox, daughter of Sir Stephen Fox and sister of Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland...
. When Edward died in 1757, the title was inherited by their brother Henry
Henry Digby, 1st Earl Digby
Henry Digby, 1st Earl Digby was a British peer and Member of Parliament.Digby was the younger son of Hon. Edward Digby, son of William Digby, 5th Baron Digby. His mother was Charlotte Fox, daughter of Sir Stephen Fox. Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland, was his uncle and Charles James Fox his cousin...
, and Robert was elected to succeed Edward as MP for Wells
Wells (UK Parliament constituency)
Wells is a county constituency centred on the city of Wells in Somerset. It elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, by the first past the post voting system...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, holding the seat from 1757 to 1761. (Because the family's title was in the peerage of Ireland, it did not confer a seat in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, and did not disqualify the holder from election to he British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
).
He married Eleanor Jauncey (née Elliot), daughter of Andrew Elliot, Lieutenant-Governor of New York. They had no children.
External links
- Admiral Digby museum, in Digby, Nova Scotia
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