Loading...Biography
Born on the 28th of December 1770, Henry Blackwood was son of Sir John Blackwood Bt., of Ballyleidy in County Down, and his wife, Dorcas Stevenson. [1][2] He joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer in April 1781.[2]
On the 12th of January 1795, while he was without a ship, he married Jane Mary Crosbie [1] at St Swithin, Walcot in Somerset. [3] Jane passed away on the 19th of January 1798. [1][4] She was buried at St Marylebone in Westminster on the 25th. [5]
On the 3rd of Jun 1799 at St George Hanover Square Henry married Elizabeth Waghorn [1][6] daughter of Captain Martin Waghorn RN, deceased, and his widow, Ann Marriott. Their only child was their son, Martin Henry Blackwood born on the 11th of June 1801. [1]
Elizabeth died on the 30th of October 1802. [1]
On the 9th of May 1803 [1] at St Martin's Church in East Horsley Henry married Harriet Gore [7] They were parents of a daughter, Harriete Anne and a son, Arthur Johnstone Blackwood born on the 25th of April 1808. [1]
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| Euryalus Model |
On the 22nd of June 1803 he was appointed Captain of HMS Euryalus. [1] Built at Buckler's Hard by Henry Adams, Euryalus had only been launched on the 6th of June [8] and cannot have been ready to sail by the 22nd. A single deck frigate of 36 guns she turned out to be a speedy sailer.
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| To Trafalgar |
In 1805 it was expected in England that Napoleon would attempt an invasion which could not be achieved without control of the seas. The Royal Navy therefore had the objective of destroying any fleet the French could put to sea. Eventually a great combined Franco-Spanish fleet was blockaded in Cadiz Harbour. The painting by Thomas Buttersworth shows the scene on the 15th of September 1805 when Victory sailed from Portsmouth. Euryalus is to the left, still moored. [9] Euryalus and Victory sailed together to join the fleet off the coast of Spain. There was no question that Euryalus, a frigate, would join in any big battle. Henry commanded four frigates, Euryalus, Naiad, Phoebe and Sirius, a schooner, Pickle, and a cutter, Entreprenante, with the task of keeping an eye on the enemy and passing on the information to the main fleet some fifty miles out at sea. The combined fleet sailed on the 20th of October and was brought to battle the following day.
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| The Day After Trafalgar |
After the Battle, Euryalus was Admiral Collingwood's flagship and took the Royal Sovereign in tow, battling through a severe storm which led to the prizes being abandoned. In the painting by Nicholas Pocock she is shown towing Royal Sovereign while Victory, too, fights the seas.
Henry was created a Baronet on the 23rd of July 1814. [10]
In 1827 Captain James Stirling named the Blackwood River in Australia after him. Stirling had been a midshipman under Henry on HMS Warspite in 1808-1809. [11]
Henry died on the 14th of December 1832. [1]
Research note
The original Dictionary of National Biography states " He was married three times, and left a large family, the descendants of which are now numerous." [2] repeated by Wikipedia (13 May 2024) citing the ODNB.
Four children identified does not seem to justify the description large. Are there more children needing to be found?
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Trafalgar Ancestors: Captain Henry Blackwood
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 05 Blackwood, Henry (1770-1832) by John Knox Laughton
- ↑ Somerset, England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914 (Marriage Registers Walcot St Swithin 12 Jan 1795 Henry Blackwood Esq and Jane Mary Crosbie)
- ↑ Thepeerage.com: Jane Mary Crosbie Cites: Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003]
- ↑ London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 (Westminster St Marylebone Burial 25 January 1798 Jane Mary Blackwood)
- ↑ Westminster, London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns (St George, Hanover Square Henry Blackwood Esq a widower and Elizabeth Waghorn spinster, a minor both of this Parish were married in this Church by license and with the consent of Ann Waghorn widow and Charles Brown the guardians of the said minor on this 3rd day of June in the year 1799)
- ↑ Surrey, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1937 (East Horsley, St Martin 9 May 1803 The Honourable Henry Blackwood widower married spinster Harriet Gore)
- ↑ Wikipedia: HMS Euryalus (1803)
- ↑ File:HMS Eurylaus, by Thomas Buttersworth
- ↑ The London Gazette 16919 Page 1487
- ↑ Wikipedia:Blackwood_River
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