Henry Digby (Royal Navy Officer) - Later Life

Later Life

On 17 April 1806, he married Lady Jane Elizabeth Coke, a renowned beauty, and daughter of Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester. They had three children, the eldest son, Edward St Vincent, born 1806, became the 9th Baron Digby in 1856. Their daughter, born in 1807, was the scandalous adventuress, Jane Digby. Their youngest child, Rev. Hon. Kenelm Henry Digby, held the office of rector of Tittleshall, and Honorary Canon of Norwich.

For his role at Trafalgar, Digby received a further £973 prize money and a proportion of a government grant amounting £2389 7s 6d, which together with the money accumulated from earlier successes paid for a large manor and a very comfortable life. In 1815 his uncle, Admiral Robert Digby, died leaving Henry the estate in Minterne Magna to which he retired with his family. Digby did not leave the Royal Navy however, and continued to serve for many years, advancing by seniority through the ranks; making Rear Admiral in 1819 and Vice Admiral in 1830.He received the Order of the Bath in 1815 and served as High Sheriff of Dorset in 1835. Digby was appointed Commander-in-Chief, The Nore in 1840. He died in 1842 and was buried in the local churchyard with many of his family, where his tombstone can still be seen. At the time of his death he was a full Admiral of the Blue and had become a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Henry's great great granddaughter was the 20th century socialite and diplomat Pamela Harriman who grew up on the family estate in Dorset.