Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p1.djvu/383

Rh  noble family of Stopford is said to derive its descent from Nicholas de Stockport, Baron of Stockport, one of the eight barons of the palatinate, created by Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester, who settled in that county previous to the Norman Conquest. The first ancestor of the subject of this memoir, of whom we have certain information, was James Stopford, an officer in the parliamentary army, who repaired to Ireland during the usurpation of Oliver Cromwell, and carved out a fortune for himself in that kingdom. From him descended James, second Earl of Courtown and first Baron Saltersford, who married Mary, daughter and co-heiress of Richard Powis, of Hintlesham-Hall, co. Suffolk, Esq. and niece of George, the late Duke of Montagu.

Robert Stopford, the third son by the above marriage, was born Feb. 5, 1768; went to sea at an early age; served some time in the Prince George, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Digby, on the American station ; and obtained the rank of Post-Captain Aug. 12, 1790, in which year we find him commanding the Lowestoffe frigate, employed in the Channel.

Captain Stopford’s next appointment was to the Aquilon, of 32 guns, stationed in the Mediterranean, from whence he returned to England with H.R.H. Prince Augustus, now Duke of Sussex, as his guest. The Aquilon was subsequently attached to the fleet under the orders of Earl Howe, and repeated the signals of the rear division in the memorable conflict of June 1, 1794.

In the autumn of the same year our officer was removed into the Phaeton of 38 guns, and continued on Channel service until Feb. 1795, when he received orders to join the squadron destined to escort her Serene Highness the Princess Caroline of Brunswick from Germany to Great Britain. He 