Captain humphreys was the officer who commanded H.M.S. Leopard, of 50 guns, at the time of her encounter with the U. S. frigate Chesapeake, in the month of June, 1807. The existing political differences with America—differences which, in some measure, have arisen from that encounter—therefore, render his services a subject of considerable interest to the British public; particularly when it is recollected, that, in executing the orders of his commander-in-chief, to search the Chesapeake for deserters, his conduct was the theme of very general approbation.

With the time of this gentleman's birth we are unacquainted; but we are informed that he entered the navy in the year 1790, under the auspices of the present Vice-admiral Vashon, with whom he immediately sailed, on board the Ardent, of 64 guns, to the West Indies. From the Ardent, he soon afterwards removed into the Trusty, the flag-ship of the late Sir John Laforey, Bart. then commander-in-chief on that station.

Passing through an unbroken series of active services, in the several gradations of midshipman, lieutenant, and commander, Captain Humphreys obtained post rank on the 8th of May, 1804; after which, he remained two years unemployed.—In the course of that period he married the eldest daughter and heiress of the late John Tirel Morin, Esq. of Weedon Lodge, Bucks.