Griffin was said to have belonged to a younger branch of the family of Lord Griffin of Braybrooke, which merged in that of Lord Howard of Walden. He is described as being of the parish of Dixton Hadnock in Monmouthshire.[1]
Naval career
He joined the Royal Navy in 1718 as third lieutenant of HMS Orford.[2] He was given command of HMS Shoreham in 1731, HMS Blenheim in 1735, HMS Oxford in 1738 and HMS Princess Caroline in 1739.[2] In 1741 he commanded HMS Burford at the Battle of Cartagena de Indias in Spring of that year.[2] In September 1742 he was involved in an incident whereby he evicted some of his officers from their cabins to accommodate some passengers: considerable acrimony followed.[2] He went on to command HMS St George from later in 1741 and HMS Captain from 1743.[2] While in command of the latter ship he was involved in an incident whereby he was accused of engaging a small French vessel and ignoring two much larger enemy ships; his explanations were accepted at the time but revisited later.[2]