Admiral Sir Henry Darby

Several of the Darbys of Leap Castle near Birr, Co. Offaly became notable figures. Admiral Sir Henry D'Esterré Darby (1749-1823), nephew of Admiral George Darby, commanded the HMS Bellerophon at the Battle of the Nile (1798), and there survives an interesting letter to him from Nelson:

'My Dear Darby,
I grieve for your heavy loss of Brave fellows, but look at our glorious Victory. We will give you every assistance as soon as you join us, till then God Bless You.

Ever yours faithfully
Horatio Nelson
Aug 3rd 1798
We shall both I trust soon get well.'

Darby received a knighhood in 1820. He died on March 30th 1823 and was buried in Aghancon Graveyard, near Leap.

His nephew, John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) was the founder of the Plymoth Brethren, deriving his ideas on justification in Christ, he claimed, from Newman.
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