Samuel Hood

The son of Samuel Hood (Senior) and Mary Hoskins, Samuel Hood was born in 1724 in the town of Butleigh, Somerset. Samuel's father had experienced a relatively successful naval career prior to Samuel's birth where he resided in the Caribbean in the St. George Squadron under Admiral Joseph Fletcher in the late 1600's and early 1700's. By the time of Samuel's birth he had retired from the Navy and had become the well respected vicar of Butleigh. Samuel Senior had never intended for his son to follow in his footsteps and so Samuel went to school and did not join the Royal Navy at the usual young age of the time, he was 17 at the time of enlistment. Although never intending to join the Navy, one evening an old friend of Samuel's father came to visit. Capt. Aaron Jones only stayed for the night as he was travelling home to London, however after listening to the stories of battles, tactics, exploration and honour, Samuel impressed himself upon Capt. Jones to take him to sea. Although Jones was of a Senior age by this point, he agreed and so Samuel began his career in the navy in 1741.

Samuel's career in the navy got off to an impressive start as he was initially stationed in the lucrative Mediterranean under various frigate Captains. It did not take long for Samuel to distinguish himself as his late entry into the Navy had actually enabled him to study longer at school and soon be using that knowledge to his advantage. Samuel's tactical knowledge and ambition enabled him to leap through the ranks and become a Captain in his early twenties. Having been experienced in battle and tactically brilliant, Samuel was soon to show the Navy and his enemy just what a force to be reckoned with he was when given command of the Antelope of 50 guns. Unleashed in the Mediterranean Samuel's utter belief in annihilating the enemy made him both feared and respected by friend and foe alike. Although it was freeing to have an independent command, Samuel's true love and hope was in the large fleet engagements and he pursued the dream of commanding one of these fleets with the utmost vigour. Once promoted to Rear Admiral, Hood fought under Admiral George Brydges Rodney at the Battle of the Saintes and then under Admiral Thomas Graves at the Battle of the Chesapeake which did not shower him in the glory of the previous battle.

Samuel heard of his fathers Squadron being reformed to enter the Caribbean, and used his influence to persuade the Admiralty to assign him to this Squadron. Sailing with his fellow Captains Samuel Hood and the Squadron devastated England's enemies. The Squadron were impressed by Samuel's actions and he was elevated to a peerage. Sir Samuel continues to sail with the fleet in the hope of showering England in glory and annihilating the enemy. As he has achieved his goal of becoming a renowned Admiral, he now seeks a Viscountcy, as his brother Alexander Hood holds one and Sir Samuel does not like to be outdone. Although Sir Samuel may be deemed to be a genius in warfare, being irascible has not endeared him to other Admiral's or Officers in the Army. Sir Samuel is much loved by those who serve under him, but due to his headstrong nature and previously mentioned attributes, he is seen to be a threat by his superiors.