Arthur Herbert, Earl of Torrington

Arthur Herbert, Baron Torbay and Earl of Torrington, was buried in Westminster Abbey on 22nd April 1716 in the "south aisle within the tombs" ie. the south ambulatory. He has no monument or marker. He was a son of Sir Edward Herbert, Attorney General to Charles I and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, and his wife Margaret (nee Smith). His brother Charles died unmarried having been killed fighting for William III. His other brother Edward became Chief Justice of the King's Bench and was created Earl of Portland. Sister Margaret married a Mr Agar. After entering the naval service he saw action against the Dutch and served in the Mediterranean. His first wife was Anne (nee Hadley) and his second Anne (nee Armine) but he had no children by them although it seems he had an illegitimate son. Among various posts he was Rear Admiral, Groom of the bedchamber to the Duke of York, Colonel of the 15th Foot and Master of Trinity House. He was dismissed from his offices for refusing to vote for the repeal of the Test Act. Joining the Prince of Orange in Holland (who became William III of England) he was Lt. General Admiral of the fleet which brought him to England in 1688. After his failure to engage the French off Beachy Head he was committed to the Tower of London, tried and acquitted. Samuel Pepys, in his Diary, was very critical of him.

Further reading for him and his father

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004