[From Manx Quarterly, #12 June 1913]

Rear-Admiral Sir H C. Christian,

Rear-Admiral Sir H. C. Christian was a descendant from the ancient family of Christian, in the Isle of Man. Born in London in 1747, he was made lieutenant in the Royal Navy January 21st, 1771, and on August 2nd, 1778, having previously been advanced to the rank of master and commander, we find him in the Vigilant, armed ship of 20 guns. On Dec. 8th, 1778, he was made post-captain. and in Admiral Byron's memorable action with D'Estaing, on the 6th July,1799, his ship, the Suffolk, had seven killed and twenty-five wounded. He was in the actions with De Guichen on April 17th and May 15th and 19th, 1780. On June 1st. 1795, he was made Rear-Admiral of the Blue. On November 16th, having hoisted his flag on the Prince George, of 98 guns, he sailed with a squadron of ships of war, and a convoy of more than 200 sail of transports and West Indiamen, on board of which were embarked upwards of 16,000 troops. The most tempestuous weather ensued. Several of the transports and merchantmen foundered, and many lives were lost. The Admiral having repaired the damage, sailed again on the 9th December, and after encountering the most dreadful weather, which dispersed the squadron, he was obliged to return to Spithead with eight ships and about fifty sail of transports and merchantmen. A third effort proved more successful. The Rear-Admiral sailed again on the 20th March, 1796, in the Thunderer, of 74 guns, accompanied by the Invincible, 74 guns; Grampus, 51 guns; and four smaller vessels of war, with such of the merchantmen and transports as were ready, and after a passage of 32 days arrived at Barbadoes. On the; 22nd April he left Carlisle Bay in company with Sir J. La Forey, who, on his arrival at Martinique, resigned the command at the Leeward Islands to the Rear-Admiral. Sir Hugh immediately commenced operations for the reduction of St. Lucia, which Island surrendered on the 25th May to the land and sea forces commanded by Sir Ralph Abercrombie and the rear-admiral. The garrison amounted to 2,000 men. A great quantity of stores, etc., were taken. After the restoration of tranquility in Grenada, St. Vincent, etc., he was superseded by Rear-Admiral Harvey, and returned to England in the Beaulieu, a frigate. On the 17th February he obtained the insignia of the Military Order of the Bath; on the 20th February, 1797, he was made Rear-Admiral of the White; and in the following year he succeeded Admiral Pringle as commander-in-chief at the Cape, and died there in November, 1798.