D'Arcy Anthony Denny joined the Royal Navy in
1850. He rose through the ranks and was promoted to lieutenant in
1858. He was commander of HMS
Forward on the coast of
British Columbia between
1866 and 1868. According to the despatches, Denny was disciplined on several occasions for overstepping
his authority when interacting with Indigenous peoples. He was promoted to commander in
1868 and returned to Britain that year. According to this
despatch, on his return voyage he was charged with returning the seal of the now-defunct colony
of
Vancouver Island to the British government. He served on the coast of South America between
1872 and 1876. In
1876, he returned to England and assumed a post with the Coast Guard.
Daniel Pender, who served as Denny's commanding officer, would name Denny Island, near
Bella Bella, in his honour.