TORRINGTON, ARTHUR HERBERT, EARL OF (1647 1716), British admiral, was the son of a judge, Sir Edward Her bert (c. 1591-1657). He entered the navy in 1663, and served in the Dutch wars of the reign of Charles II., as well as against the Barbary pirates. From 168o to 1683 he commanded in the Medi terranean. The known Royalist sentiments of his family and his reputation as a naval officer ensured the favour of James II., who appointed him rear-admiral of England and master of the robes. But Herbert refused to support the king's proposal for the repeal of the Test Act, and was dismissed from his places. He now en tered into communication with the agents of the prince of Orange. After the acquittal of the seven bishops in 1688 he carried the invitation to William of Orange. After the Revolution Herbert was named first lord of the admiralty, and took the command of the fleet at home. In 1689 he was at sea attempting to prevent the French admiral Château-Renault (q.v.) from landing the troops sent by the king of France to the aid of King James in Ireland. Though he fought an action with the French in Bantry Bay on May 10 he failed to baffle Château Renault, who had a stronger force. In May 1689 he was created earl of Torrington. In 1690 he was in the Channel with a fleet of 56 English and Dutch vessels, when he found himself confronted with the much more powerful French fleet. He proposed to retire
to the Thames, but the council of regency, knowing that the Jacob ites were preparing for a rising, and only waiting for the support of a body of French troops, ordered him not to lose sight of the enemy, but rather than do that to give battle "upon any advantage of the wind." On July Io Torrington made a half-hearted attack on the French off Beachy Head in which his own ship was kept out of fire, and severe loss fell on his allies. Then he retired to the Thames. The French pursuit was fortunately feeble, and the loss of the allies was comparatively slight. Torrington was brought to trial before a court martial in December, and acquitted. He died on April 14, 1716.
The unfavourable account of his moral character reported by Dartmouth to Pepys is confirmed by Bishop Burnet, who had seen much of him during his exile in Holland. Torrington origi nated the phrase "a fleet in being." See Charnock's Biog. Nay., i. 258. The best account of the battle of Beachy Head is to be found in "The Account given by Sir John Ashby Vice-Admiral and Rear-Admiral Rooke, to the Lords Com missioners" (1691).