Alexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport
Alexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport, KB ( * December 2, 1726, † May 3, 1814 ) was an admiral of the British Royal Navy and scion of the seafaring family Hood.
Life
Hood was the second son of Samuel Hood and younger brother of Admiral Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood. His father was vicar of Butleigh in Somerset.
Alexander Hood joined the Royal Navy at the age of 14 years. In 1746 he was appointed lieutenant and ten years later, after he had served on various ships, promoted to Commander. He served a long time as flag captain of Admiral Sir Charles Saunders.
1756 promoted to captain, he took in 1759 during the Seven Years' War in the Battle in the Bay of Quiberon part. In 1761, he captured a frigate - from a hopeless to be designated as a position - a French ship of the line. In 1778 he participated in the Battle of Ushant ( 1778). In 1780 he became rear-admiral in 1787 and vice-admiral. From 1784 to 1796 he was also a member of the House of Commons. In the battle on 13 Glorious First (English: Glorious First of June ) during the First Coalition War he served under Lord Howe as squadron leader. For his service during this battle he was raised to Baron.
1795 Hood won the French troops of Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse in the Battle of the Groix. He managed to take three French ships of the line. But Hood, who had broken off the battle prematurely because his ships had come too close to the coast, was within the Royal Navy accused of having thus won no major victory. From 1795 to 1800 he commanded the Channel Fleet and headed there the blockade of Brest. During the great mutiny of Spithead, he succeeded only temporarily to move the mutineers to relent.
In 1800 he was elevated to Viscount Bridport, after he was also in the Peerage of Great Britain since 1794 Baron Bridport, of Cricket St. Thomas, in the Peerage of Ireland and since 1796. The British title extinguished, as Hood in 1814, died without a male descendant, the Irish barony was due to a special note be at the ceremony to the grandson of his younger brother over.