Hood, Alexander

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Hood, Alexander (1726–1814). Admiral. The younger brother of Samuel Hood, Alexander had an active naval career of 54 years, first commissioned in 1746 and still commanding at the blockade of Brest in 1800. In 1755 he served under Saunders in North America, in 1759 was at Quiberon Bay with Hawke, and in 1761, off Belle Île, retook the Warwick from the French in a fierce contest. Made treasurer of Greenwich in 1766, he nurtured his relations with the Chatham family. He served under Keppel at Ushant in 1778, attained knighthood and admiral rank, and took part in the second relief of Gibraltar in 1782. In 1794, at the Glorious First of June action, he was second in command to Howe, and was subsequently created Lord Bridport in the Irish peerage. Made a British peer in 1796 and a viscount in 1800 he commanded the Channel fleet for the rest of his active service and was at Portsmouth during the Spithead mutiny. Hood was scorchingly critical of the Admiralty's mishandling of the mutiny and his part in the peaceful resolution may remain underestimated. Through the marriage of his daughter to Nelson's elder brother, the 1st Earl Nelson, the Sicilian dukedom of Brontë passed to the Bridports.

David Denis Aldridge

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