Vice Admiral George Darby (c.1720 – 1790), of Newtown House, adjacent to Sandleford Priory. He was a highly respected naval officer, who had served under Edward Boscawen, and was eventually promoted to Admiral and the chief command of the Channel Fleet. He was commander-in-chief of the Western squadron 1780–2; MP for Plymouth, 1780–1784; Lord of the Admiralty 1780 – March 1782. His first wife Mary was the daughter of Sir William St Quintin, 4th Baronet, who also rented a house in the village of Newtown. He later married Ann Bridges née Jackson.