Barrington Dacres Barrington Dacres ( died 25 October 1806 ) was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars . He eventually rose to the rank of Post - Captain . He did not see action in many significant engagements , and is chiefly remembered for the accidental loss of his ship to the French , and for the unsuccessful chase of two French ships in the English Channel . He did however command a number of ships of the line under several of the leading naval commanders of his time . His early death though prevented him from achieving the same seniority and degree of fame as his relatives did . Family and early life . Barrington was born the eldest son of Captain , later Vice - Admiral , James Richard Dacres , and his wife Eleanor Blandford Pearce . The Dacres would eventually become a substantial naval dynasty , Barrington ' s brother James Richard Dacres would also become a vice - admiral , as would Barrington ' s uncle Richard Dacres , while his cousin Sydney Dacres would be an admiral , and First Sea Lord . Career . Barrington Dacres took command of the newly converted bomb vessel in 1799 . He remained in command until 27 February 1801 when he put in to the Italian port of Ancona , unaware that it had been captured by the French . The French took possession of the " Bulldog " , an attempt to recapture her by cutting her out of the port was made by Captain Thomas Rogers of , but though it was nearly successful , the British were forced to abandon her again . She was finally retaken off Gallipoli on 16 September 1801 by Lord William Stuart ' s . Dacres ' s career does not appear to have been particularly adversely affected by the accidental loss of his ship . He was promoted to Post - Captain on 29 April 1802 . He took command of the 74 - gun third rate in May 1803 , and recommissioned her in July that year . On 5 June he captured the " Petronelle " , By September he was cruising in the English Channel as part of Sir Edward Pellew ' s squadron , when the French 74 - gun " Duguay - Trouin " was spotted sailing in company with the 38 - gun frigate " Guerrière " . The two had already been engaged by , under Captain John Maitland , but the French ships had driven her off and were now bound for Corunna . Dacres took the " Culloden " in pursuit , eventually closing the distance and opening fire . The " Duguay - Trouin " was first to reach the safety of the port , but Dacres continued to engage the " Guerrière " until he was almost under the guns of the shore batteries . He eventually veered away , having inflicted considerable damage and several casualties . Dacres remained in command of " Culloden " until being succeeded by Captain George Reynolds in February 1804 . Dacres then took command of the 74 - gun in February , and was involved in the blockade of Brest , under Rear - Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood . He was succeeded by John Hunter in August 1804 . By January 1805 was briefly aboard , taking over from Captain Francis Temple , but by March Temple was back in command . He took command of HMS " Hercule " , capturing a number of merchant vessels carrying sugar on 9 July 1806 . Death . Barrington Dacres appears to have been in poor health and died at Bath , Somerset on 25 October 1806 . He predeceased his father , who died in January 1810 .