Admiral of the Blue Sir Henry D'Esterre Darby, (9 April 1749 – 30 March 1823) was a Royal Navy officer. He was the third son of Jonathan and Susannah Darby of Leap Castle, in King's County, Ireland. He was the nephew of Vice-admiral George Darby. Darby first went to sea when he was thirteen but it was another fourteen years before he made lieutenant, aboard his uncle's ship HMS Britannia. In 1781, he was given command of the 8-gun Infernal but was captured after an inconclusive action at the Battle of Porto Praya and remained a prisoner for the rest of the war.
Darby was promoted to captain in 1783 and commanded HMS Bellerophon at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. A letter written by Horatio Nelson after the battle, survives:
My Dear Darby,I grieve for your heavy loss of Brave fellows, but look at our glorious Victory. We will give you every assistance as soon as you join us, till then God Bless You.Ever yours faithfully,Horatio NelsonWe shall both I trust soon get well.
Darby was promoted to Rear-Admiral of the Blue in 1804; Rear-Admiral of the White in 1805; Rear-Admiral of the Red in 1808; Vice-Admiral of the Blue in 1810; Vice-Admiral of the White in 1811; Vice-Admiral of the Red in 1814 and finally Admiral of the Blue in 1819. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1820.