Horatio Nelson's Friend Sir Henry Blackwood 1770-1832 Killyleagh Co Down

We are in Killyleagh Co Down exploring the village, its castle, it's streets and all the famous/fascinating people from the past who were born here or nearby. This is Vice Admiral Sir Henry Blackwood 1770-1832 whose memorial is in Killyleagh Parish Church.
Blackwood was the fourth son of Sir John Blackwood, 2nd Baronet, of Ballyleidy (later renamed Clandeboye), County Down, and of Dorcas Blackwood, 1st Baroness Dufferin and Claneboye.
In April 1781 when he was barely past 10 years old he entered the Royal Navy as a volunteer on board the frigate HMS Artois, with Captain John MacBride, on board he was present at the Battle on the Dogger Bank!
The years passed and numerous promotions followed.
From 1795 he was captain of the floating battery HMS Nonsuch in the Humber.
By 1898 he was appointed to the frigate HMS Brilliant, of 28 guns.
in 1799, Blackwood was appointed to the frigate HMS Penelope, of 36 guns, and was sent out to the Mediterranean to take part in the blockade of Malta.
Blackwood was to equip himself well on the night of 30 March 1800. - Guillaume Tell, of 80 guns, taking advantage of a southerly gale and intense darkness, broke out of Malta harbour and made a run for it. Although this ship of the line vastly outclassed Penelope, Blackwood immediately followed, and, having the advantage of sailing, quickly came up with her; then, in the words of the log:

'luffed under her stern, and gave him the larboard port broadside, bore up under the larboard quarter and gave him the starboard broadside, receiving from him only his stern-chase guns. From this hour till daylight, finding that we could place ourselves on either quarter, the action continued in a foregoing manner, and with such success on our side that, when day broke, the Guillaume Tell was found in a most dismantled state.'

At five o'clock Lion, of 64 guns, and some little time afterwards Foudroyant, of 80 guns, came up, and after a determined and gallant resistance Guillaume Tell surrendered. All present acknowledged the audaciously brave role HMS Penelope played in bringing about Guillaume Tell's surrender. Of course Nelson himself got to hear of the details and thoroughly commended Blackwood.
In April 1803 Blackwood was appointed to Euryalus, of 36 guns.
He was with Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Blackwood was ordered by Nelson to return to the Euryalus from the Victory with the final words. 'God bless you, Blackwood,' said Nelson, shaking him by the hand; 'I shall never speak to you again.' He was to attend Nelson's funeral some time later.

On 4 June 1814, Blackwood attained the rank of rear-admiral of the Blue and in September he was created a Baronet, for his conduct of the heads of royal families of Europe to England following the defeat of Napoleon. In August 1819 he was made a Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath, and appointed commander-in-chief of the East Indies Station, nearly suffering a shipwreck in Leander on his way there off the coast of Madeira. He returned from this station in December 1822. He became vice-admiral in May 1825, and from 1827 to 1830 he was Commander-in-Chief, The Nore. During this period, he lived at Blackwood House, 6 Cornwall Terrace, Regent's Park, London
From 1830 to his death he served as a Groom of the Bedchamber to King William IV.
He died after a short illness, differently stated as typhus or scarlet fever, on 17 December 1832, at Ballyleidy, the seat of his eldest brother, Lord Dufferin and Claneboye. He is buried in Westminster Abbey with a monument by William Behnes.

Commands HMS Nonsuch
HMS Brilliant
HMS Penelope
HMS Euryalus
Ajax
Warspite
East Indies Station
Nore Command

Battles/wars Fourth Anglo-Dutch War
French Revolutionary Wars
Napoleonic Wars
Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath