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Leeward Islands Station
The Leeward Islands Station originally known as the Commander-in-Chief at Barbadoes and the Leeward Islands was a formation or command of the Kingdom of Great Britain and then the United Kingdom's Royal Navy stationed at English Harbour, Antigua, Leeward Islands. It existed from 1743 to 1821. History During the 18th and 19th centuries Antigua served as the headquarters of first the ''Commander in Chief Barbadoes and Leeward Islands'' then later the ''Commander in Chief, Leeward Islands'' which was the British navy's important base in the Eastern Caribbean area during the Napoleonic Wars The three most strategically important bases were Antigua, Barbados and St. Lucia. The Station, was formed in October 1743 as a separate command to the older Jamaica Station to protect Britain's sugar producing islands and its convoys. During the Seven Years' War a number of large scale naval actions were conducted by the Royal Navy from this Caribbean base, one of its major engagements was the Battl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and many smaller islands within the British Isles. Northern Ireland shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland; otherwise, the United Kingdom is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel, the Celtic Sea and the Irish Sea. The total area of the United Kingdom is , with an estimated 2020 population of more than 67 million people. The United Kingdom has evolved from a series of annexations, unions and separations of constituent countries over several hundred years. The Treaty of Union between the Kingdom of England (which included Wales, annexed in 1542) and the Kingdom of Scotland in 170 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
North America Station
The North America and West Indies Station was a formation or command of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy stationed in North American waters from 1745 to 1956. The North American Station was separate from the Jamaica Station until 1830 when the two combined to form the North America and West Indies Station. It was briefly abolished in 1907 before being restored in 1915. It was renamed the America and West Indies Station in 1926. It was commanded by Commanders-in-Chief whose titles changed with the changing of the formation's name, eventually by the Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station. History The squadron was formed in 1745 to counter French forces in North America, with the headquarters at the Halifax Naval Yard in Nova Scotia (now CFB Halifax). The area of command had first been designated as the North American Station in 1767, under the command of Commodore Samuel Hood, with the headquarters in Halifax from 1758 to 1794, and thereafter in Halifax and Bermu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney
Admiral George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, KB ( bap. 13 February 1718 – 24 May 1792), was a British naval officer. He is best known for his commands in the American War of Independence, particularly his victory over the French at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782. It is often claimed that he was the commander to have pioneered the tactic of breaking the line. Rodney came from a distinguished but poor background, and went to sea at the age of fourteen. His first major action was the Second Battle of Cape Finisterre in 1747. He made a large amount of prize money during the 1740s, allowing him to purchase a large country estate and a seat in the House of Commons of Great Britain. During the Seven Years' War, Rodney was involved in a number of amphibious operations such as the raids on Rochefort and Le Havre and the Siege of Louisbourg. He became well known for his role in the capture of Martinique in 1762. Following the Peace of Paris, Rodney's financial situation sta ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sir James Douglas, 1st Baronet
Admiral Sir James Douglas, 1st Baronet (1703 – 2 November 1787) was a Scottish naval officer and Commodore of Newfoundland. Naval career Douglas became a captain in the Royal Navy in 1744. In 1745 he commanded HMS ''Mermaid'' at Louisbourg and in 1746 he commanded HMS ''Vigilante'' at Louisbourg. In 1746 he was appointed Commodore, Newfoundland Station, by Vice-Admiral Isaac Townsend. The position of governor of the colony had temporarily lapsed after the departure of Richard Edwards and therefore Douglas was not a governor of the island. Also, no commodore or governor was sent in 1747, the next governor was Charles Watson in 1748. He then served as a Member of Parliament for Orkney & Shetland from 1754 to 1768. In 1757 Douglas served as a member of the court-martial which tried and convicted Admiral Byng and in 1759 he was knighted for his participation in the capture of Québec. He became commander-in-chief of the Leeward Islands Station and was commander of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sir John Moore, 1st Baronet
Admiral Sir John Moore, 1st Baronet, KB (24 March 1718 – 2 February 1779) was a British officer of the Royal Navy during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. He eventually rose to the rank of admiral. Childhood Moore was born on 24 March 1718, as the third son of Henry Moore, the rector of Malpas, Cheshire and the son of Henry Hamilton-Moore, 3rd Earl of Drogheda. John's mother, Catherine, was the daughter of Sir Thomas Knatchbull, baronet, and was also the widow of Sir George Rooke.Laughton, ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' Moore was initially educated at the Whitchurch grammar school, Shropshire but by age 11 he appears on the books of HMS ''Lion'' for her voyage to the West Indies in 1729. ''Lion'' was at this time the flagship of Rear-Admiral Charles Stewart, a relative of Moore's. Early naval service Moore left ''Lion'' before it sailed however, transferring first to HMS ''Rupert'', and then to HMS ''Diamond''. ''Diamond'' came und ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Charles Steevens
Rear-Admiral Charles Steevens (c. 1705 – 20 May 1761) was a Royal Navy officer who became Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Station. Naval career Born the fifth son of John Steevens, Steevens was promoted to lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1729. In 1738 as a lieutenant on HMS ''Falmouth'' he was involved in an incident whereby he insisted that Captain William Douglas, commanding officer of the ship, be confined in his cabin ''for the preservation of their lives'', he being ''disordered in his senses'': Steevens eventually gave Douglas a public apology and thereby avoided court martial. He was given command of HMS ''Cumberland'' in 1741 and was present at the Battle of Cartagena de Indias in the Spring of that year. He went on to command HMS ''Phaeton'' later that year, HMS ''Ludlow Castle'' from 1742 and HMS ''Portland'' from 1744 (in which he was involved in the capture of three French ships). He briefly commanded HMS ''Tiger'' before becoming Commander-in-Chief ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sir Thomas Frankland, 5th Baronet
Admiral Sir Thomas Frankland, 5th Baronet (26 June 1718 – 21 November 1784) was a British naval officer, MP and slave trader. He was the second son of Henry Frankland and Mary Cross. Frankland was born in the East Indies (probably India), his father being a member of the East India Company and briefly Governor of Bengal. Naval career He entered the navy in 1731, serving in HMS ''York'' under Capt. Philip Vanbrugh, HMS ''Scarborough'', and HMS ''Oxford'' before becoming a lieutenant in 1737. On 23 February 1738, he was sent to HMS ''Chatham'', again under Capt. Vanbrugh, where he served for two years. He was briefly transferred to HMS ''Cumberland'' in March 1740 before promotion to captain on 15 July 1740 aboard HMS ''Rose''. He was promptly assigned to carry the newly appointed Governor of the Bahamas, John Tinker, to the islands, and remained in the Bahamas until 1746, fighting Spanish privateers and taking a number of prizes. He then returned home and was given comm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thomas Pye
Sir Thomas Pye ( – 26 December 1785) was an admiral of the Royal Navy who served during the War of the Austrian Succession, the Seven Years' War, and the American War of Independence. He was briefly Member of Parliament for Rochester, and served as commander of several of the navy's principal stations and ports. Born into a family with powerful political connections, Pye used these to rise rapidly through the ranks, and to receive employments in periods of peace. He commanded a number of ships during the War of the Austrian Succession, and was appointed commander-in-chief in the Leeward Islands, but a fit of temper when he was superseded almost cost him his career. Charged with disobeying orders and other infractions, Pye returned to Britain, where he was able to use his connections, and the absence of the experienced naval officers, to ensure a lenient outcome to his court martial. Despite this he remained unemployed during the Seven Years' War, though he reached flag rank. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Francis Holburne
Admiral Sir Francis Holburne (1704 – 15 July 1771) was a Royal Navy officer and politician. He served as commodore and commander-in-chief at the Leeward Islands during the War of the Austrian Succession and then took part in an operation to capture Louisbourg as part of the Louisbourg Expedition during the Seven Years' War. He went on to be Port Admiral at Portsmouth and then Senior Naval Lord. In retirement he became Governor of Greenwich Hospital. He also served as a Member of Parliament. Origins He was born in 1704 the second son of Sir James Holburn, 1st Baronet of Menstrie, Clackmannan, Scotland, by his wife Jean Spittal, a daughter of Alexander Spittal of Leuchat. He was the brother to James Holburne, 2nd Baronet and William Holburne, who both served in the Navy. Naval career Early career Francis entered the Navy in 1720 as a volunteer aboard , passing his examinations in 1725. Promoted to lieutenant on 12 December 1727, he was given command of the sloop HMS ''Swi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Henry Osborn (Royal Navy Officer)
Admiral Henry Osborn (baptized 27 August 1694 – 4 February 1771) was a British naval officer who served as Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland. He was a younger son of Sir John Osborn, 2nd Baronet. Naval career Osborn joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer in 1710. He was promoted lieutenant in 1717, and his first command was HMS ''Squirrel'' in 1728. On 14 May 1729, Osborn was appointed the first commodore-governor of Newfoundland, when Lord Vere Beauclerk, the naval commander of Newfoundland had declined. He visited all of the notable places on the island and divided it into six districts. Within each of the districts he appointed magistrates and constables. He served as Port Admiral at Portsmouth from 1756 to 1757. In 1757, he was promoted Admiral of the Blue and appointed Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet. Battle of Cartagena In late 1757 Osborn besieged the neutral port of Cartagena in Spain where a French squadron designed to go to the relief of Louisbourg had ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Edward Legge (Royal Navy Officer)
Edward Legge FRS (1710 – 19 September 1747) was an officer of the Royal Navy who achieved a distinction when he was returned as Member of Parliament for Portsmouth on 15 December 1747, despite the fact that he died 87 days prior in the West Indies. Life Legge was the fifth son of the William Legge, 1st Earl of Dartmouth. He entered the navy in 1726, on board, HMS ''Royal Oak'', one of the fleet under Sir Charles Wager for the relief of Gibraltar. He afterwards served in HMS ''Poole'', in HMS ''Kinsale'' with the Hon. George Clinton, in HMS ''Salisbury'' and HMS ''Namur'', and passed his examination on 4 July 1732. He was promoted to be lieutenant of HMS ''Deptford'' on 5 March 1734, and to be captain on 26 July 1738. In 1739, he was appointed to HMS ''Pearl'', one of the ships fitting for the voyage to the Pacific under Commodore George Anson. From her, he was moved into HMS ''Severn'', another of Anson's squadron, which after many delays sailed from St. Helens ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Isaac Townsend
Isaac Townsend ( – 21 November 1765) was an admiral in the British Royal Navy and a Member of Parliament. A post-captain from 1720, Townsend commanded various ships. As captain of HMS Shrewsbury he took part in the expedition against Cartagena in 1741. He was promoted to rear admiral in 1744, vice admiral in 1746 and admiral in 1747. He was also an Elder Brother of Trinity House. He entered Parliament in 1744 as member for the naval port of Portsmouth, and represented that town until 1754. He did not stand for re-election in 1754, when the Admiralty supported two other admirals as its candidates. He became governor of Greenwich Hospital in 1754, and in this capacity in 1757 he had custody of Admiral Byng, who was under arrest there before his court-martial. After Byng's execution, Townsend was chosen to take his place as MP for Rochester, another borough in the Admiralty's gift, and was MP for that city for the rest of his life. He was regarded as a reliable voter for the g ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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