Henry Curzon

Who was Henry Curzon?

Admiral Henry Curzon was a Royal Navy officer who held commands during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.

Curzon was the fifth son of Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Baron Scarsdale, and his wife Caroline. He first entered the Navy on 14 October 1776 as an able seaman aboard Aeolus. When Aeolus returned from the West Indies in 1780, he became a midshipman aboard Magnanime. Magnanime was sent out to assist in the Relief of Gibraltar in 1781, and then to the East Indies in 1782, to reinforce the fleet under Sir Edward Hughes. Curzon transferred aboard the flagship, Superb, and fought in the battles of Providien, Negapatam, and Trincomalee. On 1 February 1783, he received a lieutenancy on Monarca and was with that ship at the Battle of Cuddalore in 1783, his last action in the East.

From July 1784 to March 1790, he was successively lieutenant aboard Flora, Ambuscade, and Aquilon, and first lieutenant of Adamant, then flagship of Sir Richard Hughes on the North American Station. He was sent home in 1790 as acting commander of Brisk. His rank as commander was confirmed on 21 September 1790 and he was given the fireship Tisiphone. On 22 November 1790, he was promoted post captain.