Henry Medley

Henry Medley (1687 – 5 August 1747) was an officer of the Royal Navy, rising to the rank of vice-admiral.

Henry Medley
Henry Medley, 1745 engraving by John Faber the Younger after John Ellys
Born1687
Died5 August 1747
Aboard HMS Russell, at Vado Ligure
Allegiance Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch Royal Navy
RankVice-Admiral of the Red
Commands heldHMS Poole
HMS York
HMS Leopard
HMS Romney
HMS Nassau
Mediterranean Fleet
Battles/warsWar of the Spanish Succession
War of the Quadruple Alliance
Anglo-Spanish War
War of the Austrian Succession

Life
Memorial in York Minster

Medley entered the Royal Navy in 1703, and in 1706 was midshipman of the 80-gun HMS Somerset with Captain Price at the relief of Barcelona. He passed his examination as lieutenant on 8 February 1710, and on 5 September 1710 was promoted by Sir John Norris to be lieutenant of HMS Fame; a few months later he was moved into the 70-gun HMS Stirling Castle. In 1717 he was a lieutenant of the 90-gun HMS Barfleur, flagship of Sir George Byng in the Baltic Sea.[1]

Early in 1720 Medley was promoted to the command of HMS Poole, a fire-ship, and on 17 February 1721 was posted into the 60-gun HMS York. In 1722, while commanding the 50-gun HMS Leopard in the Mediterranean, he seized a ship named the Revolution, lying within the mole of Genoa, on information of her being in the service of the Old Pretender. He later commanded the Leopard on the coast of Portugal and in the English Channel until the end of 1728.[1]

From 1731 to 1735 Medley was employed on the home station.[1] In 1739 and 1740 he was on fishery protection with the Newfoundland fleet, in HMS Romney.[2] At this period he was Governor of Newfoundland.[3][a]

In 1741 Medley commanded the 70-gun HMS Nassau in the Channel Fleet under Sir John Norris, and in 1742–4 was with Norris as captain of the fleet. On 19 June 1744 he was promoted to be rear-admiral of the white, and in the following winter commanded a squadron cruising in the Channel Soundings for the protection of trade.[1]

On 23 April 1745 Medley was promoted to be vice-admiral, and sent out as commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean Fleet. The service was one of blockade and co-operation with the allied armies in the War of the Austrian Succession, who in the winter of 1746–7 invaded Provence; but, after an unsuccessful attack on Antibes, they were obliged to retreat.[1]

On 15 July 1747 Medley was advanced to be Vice-Admiral of the Red. He died, probably not knowing of the promotion, on board the 80-gun HMS Russell, at Vado Ligure, on 5 August 1747.[1]

George Rodney served with him on two ships at the beginning of his career with Medley acting as a mentor to the younger man.

A monument in Medley's memory, attributed to William Tyler, was placed in York Minster.[4]

Notes

a. ^ Some sources indicate that the governor in 1740 was Lord George Graham. There is no evidence to support this appointment.

Citations
  1. "Medley, Henry" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  2. Harding, Richard. "Medley, Henry". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/18499. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. The Scots Magazine. Sands, Brymer, Murray and Cochran. 1739. p. 282.
  4. "The Late 17th And Early 18th Centuries". The York Guides. yorkguides.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 April 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
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Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Medley, Henry". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

Political offices
Preceded by
Philip Vanbrugh		 Commodore Governor of Newfoundland
1739–1740		 Succeeded by
Thomas Smith
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