Hood, Samuel (1724-1816)

English admiral. A masterly tactician, he defeated the French at Dominica in the West Indies in 1783, and in the Revolutionary Wars captured Toulon and Corsica. He was made a baronet in 1779 and a viscount in 1796.

Hood, Samuel (1762-1814)

British vice-admiral. He joined the navy in 1776, and from that year until his death was on active service almost without remission. He took part in the action off the French island of Ushant in 1778. After two years' service in the West Indies, he commanded the Zealous at the battle of the Nile in 1797. In 1802, having been promoted to commodore, he virtually drove the French out of the West Indies, and in 1805 seized four French frigates near Rochefort, but his action cost him an arm. Commander of the Centaur in 1808, he was publicly decorated by the king of Sweden for his brilliant seizure of the Russian gunship Sewolod. Useful reforms followed his promotion to commander-in-chief of the East Indies in 1812.