SAMUEL HOOD

Admiral Hood was involved in the Anglo-American (1775-1782) and the Anglo-French (1792-1797) wars. In 1793 he commanded the squadron, ovladevshey Toulon.

Samuel Hood of Whiteley was born on Dec. 12, 1724. He entered the navy in 1741, with 1743 serving under the command of Rodneya, became a lieutenant in 1746. During the Seven Years War, floated in the English Channel, then to the Mediterranean Sea, commanded a frigate, captured several French ships in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. In 1778, after service in North America, he became Commissioner of the shipyard in Portsmouth and the Head of the Marine Academy. In 1780 Seaman fired in Rear-admirals and sent to West Indies youngest leader in the Native.

Returning from America in late 1780 Rodney, learn about the beginning of the war with Holland, the Dutch seized the islands of St. Martin and St. Evstafiev with a large number of ships and property. By March 1781 he stayed at the island of St. Evstafiev, while with the squadron blocked Hood Fort Royal - the port and arsenal in Martinique, where there were 4 French battleship. However, he was unable to prevent the joining of these ships arrived from Europe with a large squadron of De Grass, and was forced to go to Antigua in connection with Rodneem.

De Grass after taking 2 Jun, 1781 the island of Tobago, at the request of the Franco-American command went to the shores of North America. Rodney sent Huda with 14 ships after him. Having lost the French out of type and not finding them in Chesapike, Hood joined the Vice-Admiral Greyvzu, who stood with 5 battleship in New York. August 31, Greyvz went in search of a French squadron, de Barra, and collided with the main forces of the enemy at the Chesapeake Bay. In combat on Sept. 5, he was defeated, and the avant-garde led by Huda will withstand the fire throughout the French squadron. The next day the British, seeing the advantage to the enemy and had damaged several ships to maneuver away from the French squadron. Graves returned to New York. The failure of the English fleet has enabled the Americans with the help of the French fleet master Yorktaunom. After taking Yorktauna English Hudah squadron returned to the West Indies, and French.

The hostilities began in 1782 capture the French island of St. Christopher. January 11, with the ships de Grass was planted landing, siege Bass-Terry. Due to the temporary departure to Europe Rodneya Hood commander in the West Indies alone. Seaman hurried to the aid of garrison with 22 ships and an army of 700 people. He wanted to come to the island at dawn in the battle line, and held several times past the chosen part of the French Navy (standing in two groups), causing its defeat. However, due to the collision with the head liner frigate had to spend the time to repair, and de Grass, knowing about the approaching enemy, he went to sea, and after prolonged exercise attacked the British.

In the afternoon of January 25, English fleet decisively moved to Bass-Terry. French navy turned to him. To not erase, Hood ordered to stand at anchor. When de Grass close to the distance of cannon shot, artillery firefight started. The French focus on the stretching of a hostile rearguard. De Grass on the 120-gun ship "Bill de Paris" tried to cut in the English system a break, but the ships from the center came to the aid, while the front ships Hood ordered to act on the plan, paying no attention to the rear. Starting with the avant-garde, Huda squadron embarked on the anchor near the old parking Frenchmen. De Grass passed by the enemy, firing his ships, and exiting to the south. He is also awaiting the arrival of reinforcements.

During the night and morning Hud consolidate its position in such a way that no ship could not pass between the wing and the shore. Flagship "Barfler" stood in the center, serving part of the arc formed. Passat hindered attack in the rear. Therefore, attempts to de Grass January 26, to attack an enemy convoy in kilvaternoy failed. Until February 14, French fleet cruise in the sea, while the British occupied the position of the island. February 1, Hood knew that shedshie to the aid of the French reinforcements dispersed. However, February 12, English garrison on the island surrendered. February 13, De Grass moved their boats to the nearby islands of Nevis and stood at anchor. Hood on the night of February 14, assembled a military council ordered the masters to check the clock, and at 11 o′clock in the morning all the ships without the signal and noise came out of the sea, is not observed the enemy.

Mehen, appreciating the steps Huda wrote: "both strategic and tactical plans and disposition Hudah were excellent.

Photo — «Samuel Hood»

Its operation is considered separately, it is absolutely brilliant, but considering the overall situation in England at that time, it gives rise to even more high quality assessment of Admiral . . . Odd, though, and approximately equal, all the same applied against Huda, but everyone in the fleet should have been feeling bold brilliance of the company and the rise of the spirit, following the great deeds . . . "Regarding the departure Hudah historian wrote:" . . . Hood held his position with the shutter speed, courage and skill, yet he still hopes for a successful resistance, but did not wait for an enemy attack with an overwhelming advantage on the side of the last . . . "

After returning from Europe Rodneya Hood was his youngest leader. In the battle on April 9, when the squadron Rodneya zashtilela off Dominica, the French squadron de Grass attacked her. A light breeze helped the French regain mobility more quickly, while classified in gusts of wind ships Hudah separated from the main force. When the wind posvezhel de Grass ordered to attack the enemy off the avant-garde. 14 or 15 of its ships down and engaged in battle with the evil that has lasted for four hours. Rodney, using all the features of wind, went to the aid of avant-garde. When the form of the French, attacking Huda, went to connect with their main forces. Then de Grass entire line of attack against Huda resumed, but he stood. When all the ships Rodneya entered into a wind, the French withdrew from the battle, failing to take the opportunity to break the English squadron. Two of the damaged ship Huda had been repaired at sea.

In the battle of Dominica Rodneya to de Grasso April 12, Hood took an active part. When the British penetrate French system and it broke, Hood pursued the enemy. The British captured the French ships of 5, including the flagship Bill de Paris. " The latter surrendered to the ship′s cannons flagship Samuel Huda.

Discipline in the British squadron was such that neither Art nor the subordinate commanders of the ships did not make a shot in the vicinity of the French ship without an order of Supreme Commander. However, after the battle Hood felt that it was possible to take a 5 and 20 ships, and said about the Rodney on the following day.

For participation in the defeat De Grass in Dominica 9 and April 12, George III erected Hudah in the title of Irish pera. In 1784 Hood entered the lower house of parliament, where adjacent to the Opposition. In 1786 he became Lord of the Admiralty.

With the start of the French Revolutionary War Hudah sent Chief of the Mediterranean Sea. The period of his command (May 1793 - October 1794. ) Was extremely active. When at the beginning of the French revolution, the opposition group based in Toulon, has decided to create a separate republic of South of France, in August 1793 Hood led the Anglo-Spanish-Sardinian squadron to Toulon and took it at the suggestion of the French royalist. However, it was not enough force against troops Convention to keep the port. He sent "Agamemnon" Nelson in Naples, to get support from the federal troops of both the King of Sicily. In Naples, Nelson met with Emma Hamilton, wife of British Ambassador to the Kingdom of the two Sicily. At her request, King Ferdinand immediately agreed to send aid Khudu 6 thousand soldiers. Then, Hood sent the captain, to persuade the Bey of Tunisia to abandon support for the French. During the struggle for Toulon Nelson′s wife wrote:

"Lord Hood is quite such as in the past: it is a good officer, that we should all respect him. All foreigners in Toulon worshiping him, and if its something happened, I am sure that nobody in the navy would not be able to replace him. "

Under fire batteries of General Bonaparte Khudu in December 1793 had left Toulon. His squadron went to Corsica for the support of the local nationalist Pasquale De Paolo, speaking to the Paris Convention and requested assistance from the sea. The British occupied the island. In autumn of 1794 Hood, produced in the admirals, to learn about strengthening the French Navy in Toulon, and went to England to demand a corresponding increase in the Mediterranean squadron. He has achieved nothing in admiralty and in anger, resigned. The new chief was the Admiral John Dzhervis.

More Hood not commanded at sea, but in 1796 was appointed chief of the Greenwich Hospital, and it has retained the post until the end of life. He died Jan. 27, 1816 in Greenwich. It was one of the few admirals, led to admiration of Nelson.