Sir Michael Seymour , 1st Baronet Sir Michael Seymour , 1st Baronet KCB ( 8 November 1768 – 9 July 1834 ) was an officer of the Royal Navy . He served during the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars , eventually rising to the rank of Rear - Admiral . Family and early life . Seymour was born in Palace , County Limerick on 8 November 1768 , the second son of Reverend John Seymour and his wife Griselda . He joined the navy at the age of 12 , serving as a midshipman aboard the sloop - of - war , in the English Channel , under Captain James Luttrell . Seymour moved with Luttrell to in 1781 . The " Portland " was then serving as the flagship of Rear - Admiral Richard Edwards , then the commander - in - chief at Newfoundland . Edwards was replaced by Vice - Admiral John Campbell in 1782 , and both Luttrell and Seymour moved aboard . The " Mediator " then returned to Britain to cruise off the French coast . On 12 December 1782 the " Mediator " pursued five French frigates in the Bay of Biscay . The French formed a line of battle , confident in their superior numbers , but Luttrell engaged them , breaking their line . He overhauled one and captured her , the 24 - gun " Alexander " , with 120 crew aboard . The remainder then fled , pursued by Luttrell . They then split up , forcing Luttrell to choose to remain with the largest . He eventually caught up with her and brought her to battle . The enemy , the 34 - gun " Menegere " with 212 men aboard , was forced to surrender . Luttrell began the return voyage to England with his prizes , having to deal with an attempted uprising amongst his French prisoners part way through the voyage on 14 December . Despite having only 190 men to deal with 340 prisoners , the rising was quashed without bloodshed . Seymour remained aboard the " Mediator " until 1783 , when he moved to . He eventually served on a number of different ships , before receiving his commission as a lieutenant in 1790 . He joined that year , but left when she was paid off in 1791 . Advancement . Seymour returned to service with the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793 , serving aboard under George Cranfield - Berkeley . The " Marlborough " formed part of the fleet under Lord Howe , and Seymour was thus present at the Glorious First of June , on 1 June 1794 . During the battle , the " Marlborough " came under attack from three French warships , the 78 - gun " Impétueux " , the 74 - gun " Mucius " and the 120 - gun " Montagne " . The " Marlborough " was heavily damaged but was able to defend herself and resist French attempts to capture her . During the battle Seymour had his left arm shot off . Seymour recovered from his wound , and was promoted to commander . He received his first command in mid - 1796 , that of the sloop . He spent the next several years cruising in the Channel , and off the French coast , before being promoted to Post - Captain on 11 August 1800 , after making representations to the First Lord of the Admiralty George Spencer . During his time in home waters he was able to capture a number of small French ships and privateer s . He moved to take command of in 1801 , at the instigation of Admiral William Cornwallis , but the Peace of Amiens later that year left him without a ship . The resumption of hostilities led to Seymour returning to sea , spending time as acting - captain of a number of ships , before finally being offered command of the 36 - gun fifth rate in 1806 . On 10 November 1808 he came across the 40 - gun French frigate " Thetis " , and after a hard fought battle , captured her . In recognition of this act Seymour received a medal from King George III , a 100 guinea piece of plate from the Lloyd ' s Patriotic Fund , and the Freedom of the Cities of Cork and Limerick . On 6 April 1809 he engaged , and captured the 44 - gun frigate " Niemen " . For this he was created a baronet the following month . Later career . Seymour then served on the Walcheren Campaign , and on its conclusion , was appointed to command his prize , , which had subsequently been taken into the navy . He then command the 74 - gun third rate , and on 26 May 1814 he captured the 44 - gun " Sultane " . He was nominated a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in January 1815 and moved aboard the Royal Yacht several years later . He became Commissioner of Portsmouth Dockyard , but after the post was abolished , was promoted to Rear - Admiral , and appointed to command the South American Station . He received a pension of £300 for the loss of his arm . Death . Seymour was already in poor health on his departure from England , and died at Rio de Janeiro on 9 July 1834 . He was buried at Cemiterio Dos Ingleses Gamboa on 15 July in a large funeral attended by English , French , American and Spanish officers , and other civilian officials . As a gesture of respect , the national flags on the ships in the harbour were flown at half - mast , and salutes were fired . A memorial was later erected in his memory at St Anns Church , Portsmouth . Family . Michael Seymour ' s younger brother , Richard , also joined the navy , reaching the rank of lieutenant . He served aboard but was killed in the battle against the French frigate " Belle Poule " on 13 March 1806 . Michael Seymour married Jane in 1797 , and the couple had five sons and three daughters . His eldest son , John , inherited the baronetcy on his father ' s death . His third and fourth sons , Michael and Edward , followed their father into the navy . Michael had a distinguished career , rising to the rank of Admiral . Edward served briefly as flag lieutenant under his father , but died relatively young , and was posthumously promoted to commander .