ACCORDING to a family tradition, the late Admiral Sir Hugh Cloberry Christian was a descendant from the ancient family of Christian, which was seated at Milntown, in the Isle of Man. His father, Thomas Christian, Esq. who died in the year 1751, at the early age of 35, was a captain in the royal navy. His mother was the daughter of Owen Hughes, Esq. of Bangor.

Sir H. C. Christian, who, from his birth, is believed to have been destined for the naval service, was born in Buckingham-street, York Buildings, London, in the year 1747. With the period at which he entered into the naval service, and with his early progress, we are unacquainted; but he received a lieutenant's commission on the 21st of January, 1771; and on the 9th of August, 1778, having previously been advanced to the rank of master and commander, we find him in the Vigilant armed ship, of 20 guns, in the fleet under Lord Howe, off Rhode Island. This was shortly after the time when, in contradiction to all the declarations of the French court, the Comte d'Estaing had appeared, with a large force of line-of-battle ships in complete condition, off Sandy Hook.