Admiral Sir Henry D'Esterre Darby, KCB (9 April 1749 – 30 March 1823) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He was the third son of Jonathan and Susannah Darby of Leap Castle, in King's County, Ireland. He was the nephew of Vice AdmiralGeorge Darby.[1][2] Darby first went to sea when he was thirteen but it was another fourteen years before he made lieutenant, aboard his uncle's ship HMS Britannia. In 1781, he was given command of the 8-gun Infernal but was captured after an inconclusive action at the Battle of Porto Praya and remained a prisoner for the rest of the war.[3]
A letter to Darby from Admiral Nelson, commander of the fleet at the battle, survives:
My Dear Darby, I grieve for your heavy loss of Brave fellows, but look at our glorious Victory. We will give you every assistance as soon as you join us, till then God Bless You. Ever yours faithfully, Horatio Nelson We shall both I trust soon get well.