Barrington, Samuel, 1729-1800

Samuel Barrington, British naval officer. In 1779, while battling the French in St. Lucia, Barrington briefly became second in command to Admiral John Byron, grandfather of Lord Byron.

From the guide to the Samuel Barrington manuscript material : 1 item, ca. 1782, (The New York Public Library. Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle.)

English admiral.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to "Sir Charles", [no year] Jan. 14. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270623277

Epithet: Vice-Admiral

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000814.0x0002cf

Samuel Barrington (1729-1800), the fifth son of the first Viscount Barrington, spent his entire adult life in the Royal Navy. He was promoted to Rear Admiral of the White and commander in chief of the West Indies in 1778 and took part in the Battle of Grenada in July 1779. Barrington returned to England shortly thereafter, held several commands in the 1780s, and died in 1800.

From the description of Samuel Barrington letterbooks, 1778-1779. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 77835444

From the description of Samuel Barrington letterbooks, 1778-1779. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702171331

Samuel Barrington, British naval officer. In 1779, while battling the French in St. Lucia, Barrington briefly became second in command to Admiral John Byron, gradfather of Lord Byron.

From the description of Samuel Barrington manuscript material : 1 item, ca. 1782 (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 75395681

Epithet: Captain; RN

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000814.0x0002ce

Samuel Barrington, the fifth son of John Barrington, first Viscount Barrington, entered the Royal Navy at age 11 under the tutelage of Lord George Gordon and received command of the frigate the Lark in 1747. After a distinguished career during which he captured several French vessels, in January of 1778 Barrington was promoted to Rear Admiral of the White and sent to the West Indies as commander in chief of the fleet there. While Barrington's official command was to guard the British West Indies against the expected arrival of the French fleet under the command of the comte d'Estaing, his secret mission was to take the French island of St. Lucia. He accomplished the capture despite many difficulties, but he lacked the force necessary for an adequate defense of the British West Indies; St. Vincent fell to the French in June of 1779, and Grenada surrendered on July 3.

Barrington's command was superseded on the arrival of Admiral John Byron from North America in early 1779, and he sailed for England shortly after taking part in the inconclusive Battle of Grenada on July 6 of that year. He refused command of the Channel fleet, and remained out of service until April 1782, when he was appointed to the Channel fleet as Lord Howe's second in command. In 1787 he was promoted to Admiral, and served for the last time in 1790, again as Howe's second in command. Admiral Samuel Barrington died in 1800.

From the guide to the Samuel Barrington letterbooks, 1778-1779, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)