Sir Michael Seymour, 1st Baronet - Family and Early Life

Family and Early Life

Seymour was born in Palace, County Limerick on 8 November 1768, the second son of Reverend John Seymour and his wife Griselda. He joined the navy at the age of 12, serving as a midshipman aboard the sloop-of-war HMS Merlin, in the English Channel, under Captain James Luttrell. Seymour moved with Luttrell to HMS Portland in 1781. The Portland was then serving as the flagship of Rear-Admiral Richard Edwards, then the commander-in-chief at Newfoundland. Edwards was replaced by Vice-Admiral John Campbell in 1782, and both Luttrell and Seymour moved aboard HMS Mediator. The Mediator then returned to Britain to cruise off the French coast.

On 12 December 1782 the Mediator pursued five French frigates in the Bay of Biscay. The French formed a line of battle, confident in their superior numbers, but Luttrell engaged them, breaking their line. He overhauled one and captured her, the 24-gun Alexander, with 120 crew aboard. The remainder then fled, pursued by Luttrell. They then split up, forcing Luttrell to choose to remain with the largest. He eventually caught up with her and brought her to battle. The enemy, the 34-gun Menegere with 212 men aboard, was forced to surrender. Luttrell began the return voyage to England with his prizes, having to deal with an attempted uprising amongst his French prisoners part way through the voyage on 14 December. Despite having only 190 men to deal with 340 prisoners, the rising was quashed without bloodshed. Seymour remained aboard the Mediator until 1783, when he moved to HMS Ganges. He eventually served on a number of different ships, before receiving his commission as a lieutenant in 1790. He joined HMS Magnificent that year, but left when she was paid off in 1791.