Arms of Hood: Azure, a fret argent on a chief or three crescents sable,[1] as sculpted on his monument in Cricket St Thomas Church
He was a younger son of the Rev. Samuel Hood (1691/2 – 1777),[2] Vicar of Butleigh and prebendary of Wells Cathedral (both in Somerset) and Vicar of Thorncombe in Devon (whose monument survives in St Leonard's Church, Butleigh[3]), by his wife Mary Hoskins, a daughter of Richard Hoskins, Esquire, of Beaminster, Dorset.[4]
The story of his entry into the navy is recounted by Edmund Lodge (1756–1839) (a personal acquaintance of Lord Bridport) in his Portraits of Illustrious Personages of Great Britain:
To the breaking down of a carriage our naval history owes two of its most illustrious ornaments, and the offspring of a retired country clergyman two seats in the upper House of Parliament. The mischance occurred to Thomas Smith, afterwards a Vice-Admiral, a commander whose memory is still highly celebrated and cherished by the profession, in travelling through Mr. Hood's village of Butleigh, which afforded neither the means of repairing the damage, so as to enable the stranger for many hours to pursue his journey, nor any public place of accommodation in which he might pass the night. The vicar, however, presently appeared, with a hearty invitation to the parsonage, which was gladly accepted, and there entertained his unexpected guest with his best hospitalities. In the morning, when Mr. Smith was about to take his leave, he said, "Mr. Hood, you have two sons; would either of them like to go with me to sea?" It was first proposed to Samuel, the elder, who declined; but Alexander with cheerful eagerness accepted it, and, shortly after, joined his new patron. Returning for a time, about twelve months after, his brother Samuel was so well pleased with his report, that he also became desirous of entering the service, as he presently did, under the same favourable auspices; and it thus happened that, though the elder brother, he became, in after life, the younger Admiral.
Captain Alexander Hood, in 1759, inserted is the scene where Hood recaptured Warwick
In the Seven Years' War Hood fought at the Battle of Quiberon Bay on 20 November 1759, and in 1761 Minerva recaptured after a long struggle, the 60-gun Warwick of equal force, which had been captured by the French in 1756. For the remainder of the war, from 1761 to 1763, he was captain of HMS Africa in the Mediterranean.[9]
American War of Independence
From this time forward Hood was in continuous employment afloat and ashore. In 1778 he was appointed to HMS Robust and fought at the First Battle of Ushant on 22 July.[9] In the court-martial of Admiral Augustus Keppel that followed the battle, although adverse popular feeling was aroused by the course which Hood took in Keppel's defence, his conduct does not seem to have injured his professional career.[10]
Henceforth Hood was practically in independent command. On 23 June 1795, with his flag in Royal George, he fought the inconclusive Battle of Groix against the French under Rear Admiral Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse off the Île de Groix and captured three ships.[9] He was much criticized in the navy for his failure to win a more decisive victory. However the British public considered the battle a great victory and his peerage was made English and he was promoted to Vice-Admiral of Great Britain.[12]
From 1795 until Hood's retirement in 1800, he was commander of the Channel Fleet. In 1796 and 1797 he directed the war from HMS London, rarely hoisting his flag afloat save at such critical times as that of the Irish expedition in 1797. He was about to put to sea when the Spithead fleet mutinied. He succeeded at first in pacifying the crew of his flagship, who had no personal grudge against their admiral, but a few days later the mutiny broke out afresh, and this time was uncontrollable. For a whole week the mutineers were supreme, and it was only by the greatest exertions of the old Lord Howe that order was then restored and the men returned to duty. After the mutiny had been suppressed, Hood took the fleet to sea as commander-in-chief in name as well as in fact, and from 1798 he personally directed the blockade of Brest, which grew stricter and stricter as time went on. In 1800 he was relieved by John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent.[10][9] In reward for Hood's fine record his peerage was made a viscounty. He spent the remaining years of his life in retirement and died on 2 May 1814.
Builds Cricket House
Cricket House, built in 1786 by Admiral Hood to the design of Sir John Soane
In 1786 he built the surviving grade II listed[13] Georgian manor house, known as "Cricket House", to the designs of his friend the architect Sir John Soane (1753–1837).[14] The Admiral had purchased the estate in 1775 from Richard Hippisley Coxe. It is unknown whether the new house incorporated elements of the earlier 14th century house or whether it was completely new.[15] Soane completed further alterations in 1801–1807. The Georgian orangery attached to the house was later turned into a parrot house.
Marriages
He married twice,[16] but failed to produce any issue:[17]
Firstly in 1758 to Maria West (c.1726-1786), known as "Molly", a daughter of the Reverend Richard West,[18] Prebendary of Winchester, by his wife Mary Temple, a daughter of Sir Richard Temple, 3rd Baronet, of Stowe, Buckinghamshire, and sister of Richard Temple, 1st Viscount Cobham.[19] Her modest mural monument designed by Sir John Soane (1753–1837) (who in 1786 rebuilt Cricket House for her husband) survives in Cricket St Thomas Church, comprising an urn capped by a segmental pediment surmounting a tablet inscribed as follows:[20]
"Sacred to the Memory of Mary Wife of Rear Admiral Alexander Hood, who died 12 September 1786, After a short illness. She was Daughter of the Reverend Doctor West And Niece to Lord Viscount Cobham of Stow in Buckinghamshire Whose Eldest Sister her Father Married. From the purest sentiments of esteem And in just testimony of her pious benevolence And most amiable disposition, Her affectionate Husband, has caused this humble Monument to be Erected. 1787".
Secondly in 1788 to Mary Sophia Bray (d.1831), only daughter and heiress of Thomas Bray of Edmonton, Middlesex.
Death and succession
Monument to Alexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport, Cricket St Thomas Church, Somerset, designed by Sir John Soane (1753–1837). Displaying the arms of Hood, West and Bray, with quarterings, topped by the Hood crest of A Cornish Chough resting on an anchor
He was buried in Cricket St Thomas Church, where survives his monument designed by his friend Sir John Soane (1753–1837), who in 1786 rebuilt Cricket House for him.[20] It is inscribed as follows:
For His Bravery, for his Abilities For his Achievements in his Profession For his Attachment to his King, and his Country, Consult the annals of the British Navy, Where they are written in Indelible Characters. Let this Monument record his private virtues. He was a sincere and pious Christian, A faithful and Affectionate Husband, A Warm and Steady Friend to Merit Benevolent to the Brave and Virtuous in Distress: Kind to his Domestics and Dependents, The Patron of unprotected Youth, The Poor Man's Benefactor, the Seamens' Friend, Beloved, Revered, and Deplored by All
^Marble memorial with a grey marble surround inscribed: Near this place lie the remains of the Revd. SAMUEL HOOD M. A. who was Vicar of this Parish, with Balstonsbury united 38 years and a Prebendary of the Cathedral Church of Wells. He was presented to the Vicarage of Thorncombe in 1761, and to the Rectory of Holcombe Burnel in 1765, both in the County of Devon, where he Continued to Preach the Doctrine of his blessed Redeemer with unremitting Zeal and Purity to a very late Period of his Life which ended June 28th 1777. He died in the 85th Year of his Age. Piety, Benevolence & Learning, distinguished his Character, his Example taught what He preached, for He always practised what he taught. Here also lie MARY his faithful Wife, who died Oct. 10th 1766, Aged 66 years and Mary, Richard and John three of their Children who all died very young. Likewise the Remains of the Revd Arthur William Hood Doctor of Divinity and a Prebendary of the Church of Wells, Who succeeded his worthy Father in this Vicarage in 1765 piously followed his Example and Precepts, and he died Novr 23rd 1768 aged 38 years. Also to the Memory of Anne Daughter of the Revd. Saml. Hood who died April 1796[1]
^Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, "Hood, Viscount"
^Samuel Hood (1715–1805) was the son of Alexander Hood (c.1675 – 1756) of Mosterton, buried at Netherbury, elder brother of Rev. Samuel Hood (1689–1777), Vicar of Butleigh
^Per a letter from Admiral Alexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport detailing his ancestry [2]
David R. Fisher, biography of "Hood, Sir Alexander (1726–1814), of Cricket St. Thomas, Som.", published in History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790–1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986 [3]
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