Thomas Pakenham

Admiral Sir Thomas Pakenham GCB (29 September 1757 – 2 February 1836), styled The Honourable from birth to 1820, was an Anglo-Irish naval officer and politician. Biography Pakenham was born the fourth son of The 1st Baron Longford and his wife Elizabeth, Baroness Longford (she was later created, in June 1785, The 1st Countess of Longford). He entered the Royal Navy in 1771 on board the , with Captain John MacBride, with whom he moved to the in 1773. In 1774 he was on the coast of Guinea with William Cornwallis in the , and in 1775 was acting lieutenant of the on the coast of North America. In the following year he was promoted by Lord Shuldham to be lieutenant of the frigate , and while in her saw much boat service, in the course of which he was severely wounded. In 1778 he joined the , commanded by Lord Mulgrave, in the fleet under Keppel, and was present in the Battle of Ushant on 27 July.