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Seymour Hugh
(1759—1801)

A son of the first Marquis of Hertford, Seymour was a captain by the age of twenty and saw considerable action in the American War, including at Howe's relief of Gibraltar in 1782. After the peace he began leading a rakish life in London, becoming intimate with George, Prince of Wales - a course from which he was rescued by making an excellent marriage.

In 1790, while in command of the 'Canada', he was badly hurt when accidentally hit on the head by a sounding lead and had to retire ashore for some time. At the beginning of the French Revolutionary War in 1793 he commanded the 'Leviathan', 74 guns, at the taking of Toulon and at Howe's victory of the Glorious First of June 1794. In the following June he rose to rear-admiral and fought in Lord Bridport's action off the Ile de Groix.

He was a member of the Board of Admiralty from 1795 to 1798 and during this time was instrumental in introducing epaulettes into the naval uniform. This was as a response to the lack of respect accorded to him by the Royalist French troops at Toulon when he went about without them. Seymour remained with the Channel fleet until 1799, when he was appointed Commander-in-Chief at Jamaica. He died during this service.

Antigua, 1982, Lord Hugh Seymour