From the admiral to the cabin-boy, the name of Benbow is so familiar to every individual in the navy, and his memory is so often mentioned with respect and admiration, that no excuse can be requisite for presenting a condensed narrative of his life and actions. We are the more induced to this, from the circumstance of the original portrait of the admiral, for which he sat to Sir Godfrey Kneller, being in our possession; by which we are enabled to prefix to the memoir the only authentic engraved likeness of this officer now extant.

The origin of the “brave Admiral Benbow” was not of that mean description that has been at times represented; on the contrary, he was the descendant of a family both ancient and honourable, which had long flourished in the county of Salop. In the reign of James I. John Benbow, his grandfather, held the office of deputy clerk of the crown; and, in the unfortunate times of Charles I. Thomas and John Benbow, his uncle and father, were distinguished by their loyalty. They both served as colonels in the king's army; and, in the fatal battle of Worcester, they both fell into the bands of the rebels.