Born the eldest son of Admiral of the FleetSir Thomas Martin and Catherine Martin, Martin joined the Royal Navy in June 1813. He had two brothers, one of whom became Admiral Sir Henry Martin. He joined the fifth-rate HMS Alceste on the East Indies Station in January 1816 after which he transferred to the yacht HMS Prince Regent in 1820 and then to the fifth-rate HMS Glasgow in the Mediterranean Fleet. Promoted to lieutenant on 15 December 1820, he joined the fifth-rate HMS Forte and then the fifth-rate HMS Aurora on the South America Station. Promoted to commander on 8 February 1823, he was given command of the sloop HMS Fly on the South America Station and, in her, provided valuable support to British merchants at Callao in Peru during the Peruvian War of Independence. Promoted to captain on 5 June 1824, Martin took command of the sixth-rate HMS Samarang in the Mediterranean Fleet in November 1826 and then went onto half-pay in 1831. He took command of the first-rate HMS Queen at Sheerness in July 1844 and then the first-rate HMS Trafalgar at Sheerness in January 1845 and finally the first-rate HMS Prince Regent in the Channel Squadron in December 1847. He went on to be commodore commanding the Channel Squadron with his broad pennant in HMS Prince Regent in December 1849.
Senior command
Promoted to rear-admiral on 28 May 1853, Martin became Admiral Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard, hoisting his flag in the first-rate HMS St Vincent in November 1853. Promoted to vice-admiral on 13 February 1858, he became First Naval Lord in the Second Derby–Disraeli ministry in March 1858. In that capacity he acted as a strong advocate for the procurement of Britain's first ironclad warship. Martin went on to become Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet, hoisting his flag in the first-rate HMS Marlborough, in April 1860. In that role he provided important assistance during the Italian disturbances in 1860 and 1861, reformed the system of discipline in his fleet and developed a comprehensive system of manoeuvres for steam ships. Having been appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 28 June 1861 and promoted to full admiral on 14 November 1863, he succeeded to the baronetcy on 4 December 1863: this had been conferred on his grandfather, but passed to Martin upon the death of his cousin, Sir Henry, the 3rd Baronet. He went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth in October 1866 and was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on 24 May 1873. He died at his home at Upton Grey near Winchfield on 24 March 1895.
Family
Martin married Anne Best, daughter of Lord Wynford, on 24 July 1826. Following her death in 1836, Martin married Sophia, daughter of Richard Hurt, on 21 May 1838. Martin left, besides daughters, one son, Sir Richard Byam Martin, who succeeded as the 5th Baronet.
