Samuel Granston Goodall (d.1801)

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Samuel Granston Goodall

NationalityBritish 
RolesNaval Sailor 
First Known Service1750CSORN
Last Known Service1.1.1801CSORN
Date of Death21.4.1801 - Teignmouth CSORN

Event History


Date fromDate toEventSource
1750 Entered the NavyODNB
1.9.1756 LieutenantCSORN
2.6.1760 CommanderCSORN
2.6.176013.1.1762
Hazard (8) 1749-1783
British 8 Gun
Unrated Sloop
, Commander, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/19/170		BWAS-1714
13.1.1762 CaptainCSORN
13.1.176230.3.1764
Mercury (20) 1756-1777
British 20 Gun
6th Rate Ship
, Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/19/380		BWAS-1714
6.6.176213.8.1762Operations against Havana 
23.2.176917.4.1772
Winchelsea (32) 1764-1814
British 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
, Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/20/229		BWAS-1714
18.2.177820.3.1779
Defiance (64) 1772-1780
British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/21/369		BWAS-1714
27.7.1778 1st Battle of Ushant 
20.3.177914.7.1783
Valiant (74) 1759-1826
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/21/526		BWAS-1714
31.12.1779 Affair of Fielding and Bylandt 
12.12.1781 2nd Battle of Ushant 
12.12.1781 Action of 1781-12-12 
12.4.1782 Battle of the Saintes 
19.4.1782 Battle of the Mona Passage 
20.7.1789 Appointed Commander-in-Chief — English Channel ADM 6/23/537ADM 6/23
19.5.179021.9.1790
Gibraltar (80) 1780-1836
British 80 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/24/31		TNC
21.9.1790 Rear-Admiral of the BlueCSORN
3.17923.1793
Romney (50) 1762-1804
British 50 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
, as Flag Officer, Rear-Admiral of the Blue, 		BWAS-1714
10.3.1792 Appointed Commander-in-Chief — The Mediterranean Sea ADM 6/24/159ADM 6/24
1.179312.4.1794
Princess Royal (98) 1773-1807
British 98 Gun
2nd Rate Ship of the Line
, as Flag Officer, Rear-Admiral of the Blue, 		BWAS-1714
1.2.1793 Rear-Admiral of the RedCSORN
12.4.1794 Vice-Admiral of the BlueADM 6/25
12.4.17941795
Princess Royal (98) 1773-1807
British 98 Gun
2nd Rate Ship of the Line
, as Flag Officer, Vice-Admiral of the Blue, 		BWAS-1714
4.7.1794 Vice-Admiral of the WhiteCSORN
1795 Asked permission to strike his flag, which was granted and went into retirement, never serving againODNB
14.3.1795 Action off Genoa 
1.6.1795 Vice-Admiral of the RedCSORN
13.7.1795 Battle of Hyeres 
14.2.1799 Admiral of the BlueCSORN
1.1.1801 Admiral of the WhiteCSORN

Notes on Officer


ObituaryTNC
At Teignmouth, Devonshire, universally respected, Samuel Cranston Goodall, Esq. Admiral of the White. He entered into the Navy at an early age, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on the ist of September 1756. He was from thence advanced to the station of Commander on the ad of June 1760, and to that of Post Captain on the 3d of January 1762, he being then appointed to the Mercury of twenty guns. The early part of this gentleman's employment as a Captain appears totally unmarked with any memorable occurrence, for no subsequent mention is made, in any degree material, concerning him, till the commencement of hostilities with France in 1778, when he was appointed to the Defiance, of 64, and from thence, after a service of a few months, was promoted to the Valiant, of 74 guns, in which ship he continued to be employed in the Home or Channel service, till the end of the year 1781, when he was ordered to the West Indies with Lord Rodney. He there distinguished himself as well in the memorable action with the French fleet under the Comte De Grasse as subsequent to it. The Valiant was one of the squadron detached after the encounter under the orders of Sir Samuel Hood, now Lord Viscount Hood, for the purpose of picking up any straggling ships that might be endeavouring to make their escape after the late discomfiture. On the I9th of April, five sail were discovered, which afterwards proved to be the Caton and Jason, of 64 guns and 600 men each, fresh ships, which are said not to have been in the preceding actions, with two frigates and a corvette. A general chase of course immediately commenced; the Valiant being the headmost ship, and Captain Goodall impelled, as well by the eager desire of distinguishing himself, us of destroying the enemies of his country, crossed the shoals of Cape Roxo. at a very great risk of grounding: nay, it is even asserted that the ship's keel actually ploughed the soft sand, but was, by a great press of sail, forced over the shoals in safety. Captain Goodall came up with the enemy about three o'clock in the afternoon. 'l"he rest of the squadron, the Magnificent, and one or two other ships excepted, being either becalmed, or occupied in chasing the other vessels, the Valiant closed, first with the Caton *, which ship: after a short action, having fallen off with her bows towards the Valiant, was raked with good success, and immediately struck. The Jason endeavoured to escape, but being pursued by Captain Goodall, was, after a warm contest, which continued three quarters of an hour, compelled to surrender, as well as her companion. The Valiant had, on this occasion, only twelve men killed and wounded, the Gazette states only two killed and six wounded; but what considerably enhances the merit of this action is, that, in consequence of her losses in the course of the preceding engagements, the Valiant had no more than five hundred and sixty-five men on board fit for duty, while the crew of the Jason alone amounted to upwards of six hundred men, and that of the Caton to nearly as many. After this encounter, Captain Goodall served during the remainder of the war on the same station, under Mr. Pigot. He was appointed to the Princess Royal in the month of June 1790; but soon resigned that command, being, on the 29th of September following, advanced to the rank of Rear-Admiral of the Blue. He was raised to the same station in the Red Squadron on the 3d of February 1793; and having hoisted his flag on board the Princess Royal, repaired to the Mediterranean, as Commander of a division of the fleet sent thither under the orders of Lord Hood. On the surrender of Toulon, his Lordship appointed Mr. Goodall temporary Governor of the town till the arrival of Sir G. Elliot. This trust he executed with the greatest integrity and ability. He afterwards continued to serve on the same station, and was concerned in all the different encounters which took place till the end of the year 1795, when he struck his flag on account of the ill state of his health; a circumstance which, in all probability, prevented his accepting of any subsequent command. On the 17th of April 1794, he was raised to the rank of Vice- Admiral of the Blue. On the 4th of July following to be Vice of the White. Admiral of the Blue on the 14th of February 1799; and, lastly, Admiral of the White on the 1st of January 1801.
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Alan on Thursday 8th of February 2018 12:18

I cannot say whether Samuel married or had children. But Thomas Goodall, Admiral of Haiti, was not his son.

Posted by Cara on Monday 31st of October 2016 16:36

I recently found Samuel Granston Goodalls name by accident, and I love in the village that he is buried. I'm trying to locate his actual grave. I have read a lot on him and wondered if there were any pictures or portraits of Jim, and would love to know what he looked like. Wondered if anything had any more information please. Thank you
Cara

Posted by Russell Barnes on Saturday 14th of July 2012 02:48

I am researching the frigate Winchelsea that Goodall commanded from 1769-1771. I have found a bit of official correspondence regarding his time in the Winchelsea, but I would like to find some personal papers for him that might help in my research. Can anyone direct me to an archive or collection? Thanks.

Posted by Dr Steve Goodall on Friday 13th of April 2012 08:23

I have researched this officer, an ancestor and unearthed a lot of info in private letters, NMM etcabout him if it is of interest - such as he did marry and one of his sons was Thomas goodall, self styled Admiral of Haiti and privateer.

Posted by Dr Steve Goodall on Friday 13th of April 2012 08:21

I have researched this officer, an ancestor and unearthed a lot of info in private letters, NMM etcabout him if it is of interest - such as he did marry and one of his sons was Thomas goodall, self styled Admiral of Haiti and privateer.

Posted by cy on Wednesday 7th of March 2012 09:39

Thanks Ben.
Corrections have been made

Posted by cy on Wednesday 7th of March 2012 09:38

Thanks Ben.
Corrections have been made

Posted by Ben on Tuesday 6th of March 2012 17:02

An excellent website by the way, but Goodall never commanded the Vigilant, Winfield appears to mistake her for the Valiant in his book. Goodall commanded Valiant off North America until the end of the war. Consequently it was not the Valiant at Cape Spartel (where both ships are shown as present, both commanded by Goodall) but the Vigilant, which was commanded by John Douglas. Similarly the Vigilant was not at the Saints or Mona Passage, that was the Valiant, as is correctly shown on your pages for those battles and that ship.

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