Talk:Henry Digby (Royal Navy officer)

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What?[edit]

"...Spanish treasure frigate Santa Brigada with $1,400,000 on board". What does this mean? I am assuming it means 1, 400, 000 dollars worth of treasure as opposed to actual dollar coins. I am also supposing it refers to Spanish dollars but I can't be sure. Unless anyone can shed any light on this, I intend to remove it as it is currently meaningless.--Ykraps (talk) 20:31, 24 November 2011 (UTC)[reply]

The Santa Brigida was one of two treasure ships, the other being the Thetis. Santa Brigida is recorded as carrying 'two bales or serons of indigo, 26 of cochineal, 23 of cocoa, and 16 of sugar, of the estimated value, altogether, of 5000l. This frigate had also 446 boxes, containing each 3000 dollars, 59 bags of dollars, and many others of uncertain number, and three kegs likewise uncertain.' in James's Naval History. The dollars were Spanish dollars, of which there were 1,400,000 according to sources, in addition to the other goods. Digby's share of the total treasure from both ships would have come to £40,730 18s, that value almost entirely from the cargo of the ships as the ships themselves were not purchased for the navy. Benea (talk) 21:04, 24 November 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for your comprehensive answer. I have found an online version of James here [[1]]. I will try to rewrite the sentence to make it less ambiguous. Regards--Ykraps (talk) 06:41, 25 November 2011 (UTC)[reply]
PS All the info I have refers to the ship as Santa Brigida but I notice it is refered to as Santa Brigada throughout Wikipedia. Is this an alternative spelling or an error?

Citation needed[edit]

This article currently says that after the Peace of Amiens, "..... Unlike other officers, Digby remained on active service during the peace, making a great dent in the smuggling trade of the English Channel". I can't find a reference to back that claim and in fact all the information I have suggests that he was not on active service at all. Broadley and Bartelot seem pretty certain, ".......he (Digby) returned from American waters after conclusion of peace, and went on half pay for than three years". Does anybody want to support the current statement?--Ykraps (talk) 16:23, 1 December 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I am removing this sentence due to lack of evidence. It appears Digby was engaged in anti-smuggling activities but this was in 1788/9 and in the North Sea (particularly along the coast of Scotland). If anyone finds any reliable sources which put Digby on active service between May 1802 and July 1805, feel free to add to the article.--Ykraps (talk) 17:52, 2 December 2011 (UTC)[reply]