Captain Michael Clements was a naval officer who greatly distinguished himself in the wars with France & Spain. Near Cadiz, in 1778 Captain Clements in the Vengeance, in sight of all the people assembled on the walls of the city, defeated two frigates sent out against him, and took on a whole Spanish fleet, receiving the fire of 24 ships of the enemy, and having 40 holes in the hull, many between wind and water.
He died in confinement, insane, after the death of his wife in 1786. It is believed that his daughter was one of the beauties that paraded along Sansome Fields, and his mentioned in Cooksey's poem on the delights of Sansome Fields and of the ladies to be seen there:
'Can Tempe's fields a pleasure boast
Which Nature sheds not here?
Or can the Mall produce a toast
Then Wyld's to fame more dear
Undoubted charms the Clement's raise
Oh' give the nymphs their share of praise'
Sadly the nymp died young, for there is a monument in St. John's Church to the daughter of Captain Clement's
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