Digby Dent

Posted by Jon Miller on Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 11:58

London, 5 March 1751: Last week the Court Martials ended at Deptford, on the several Captains accused by Rear Admiral Knowles, and sentence was passed on Captain Digby Dent as following, viz,
Present, Sir Edward Hawke, Knight of the Bath, and Vice Admiral of the Blue, President; Hon John Forbes, Read Admiral of the White; Captains Menick D’Langle, William Parry, John Campbell, Thomas Stanton, Matthew Buckle

The Court, pursuant to an order from the Right Hon the Lords of the Admiralty to Sir Edward Hawke, dated the 16th of February, 1749, proceeded to enquire into the conduct and behaviour of Captain Digby Dent in an intended attack upon the Port of St Jago de Cuba, on the 29th of March, 1748, and having heard the witnesses produced, and maturely considered their evidence, the Court are unanimously of opinion, That Captain Dent is not blameable for his conduct, in not attempting to force the port of St Jago, considering the unexpected obstacle that presented itself upon his drawing near the mouth of the harbour, and the Court do therefore unanimously acquit him of any blame upon that account.

Charles Fearne, Judge Ad, Edward Hawke, John Forbes, Menick d’Langle, Thomas Stanton, William Parry, Matthew Buckle, John Campbell
[Kentish Post, 6 March 1751]