The Leith Station was a military unit of the

British Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by Kingdom of England, English and Kingdom of Scotland, Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were foug ...

administered by the Commander-in-Chief, Leith formally known as the Commander-in-Chief at Leith and on the Coast of Scotland from 1745 to 1825.

History

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

forces first began operating from Leith between 1709 and 1713 during the

War of the Spanish Succession The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict that took place from 1701 to 1714. The death of childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700 led to a struggle for control of the Spanish Empire between his heirs, Phil ...

when the then Lord High Admiral Thomas Herbert ordered a new squadron to Leith Roads naval anchorage which was then placed under the command of the

Provost of Edinburgh The Right Honourable Lord Provost of Edinburgh is the convener of the City of Edinburgh local authority, who is elected by the city council and serves not only as the chair of that body, but as a figurehead for the entire city, ex officio the ...

Sir Patrick Johnston. Leith was initially used as an important port to protect

convoys A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...

operating between the

Orkney Orkney (; sco, Orkney; on, Orkneyjar; nrn, Orknøjar), also known as the Orkney Islands, is an archipelago in the Northern Isles of Scotland, situated off the north coast of the island of Great Britain. Orkney is 10 miles (16 km) north ...

islands and

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne ( RP: , ), or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. The city is located on the River Tyne's northern bank and forms the largest part of the Tyneside built-up area. Newcastle is ...

and to ports on the other side of the

North Sea The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. An epeiric sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian S ...

. The station was established in 1745 at the

Port of Leith A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ha ...

during the time of the French Revolutionary Wars and existed until 1825. The station throughout its existence was under the command of ''Commander-in-Chief, Leith'' who also duel-hatted in the role as Port Admiral, Leith.

Commander-in-Chief, Leith Station

:Incomplete list of post holders included: * Rear-Admiral–

John Byng Admiral John Byng (baptised 29 October 1704 – 14 March 1757) was a British Royal Navy officer who was court-martialled and executed by firing squad. After joining the navy at the age of thirteen, he participated at the Battle of Cape Passa ...

–1745-1746 * Rear-Admiral Thomas Smith February 1746-January 1747 * Commodore Sir

Alexander Cochrane Admiral of the Blue Sir Alexander Inglis Cochrane (born Alexander Forrester Cochrane; 23 April 1758 – 26 January 1832) was a senior Royal Navy commander during the Napoleonic Wars and achieved the rank of admiral. He had previously captain ...

1793 *

Vice-Admiral of the Red Vice-admiral of the Red was a senior rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, immediately outranked by the rank admiral of the Blue (see order of precedence below). Royal Navy officers currently holding the ranks of commodore, rear admiral ...

—

Richard Rodney Bligh Admiral Sir Richard Rodney Bligh, GCB ( bap. 8 November 1737 – 30 April 1821) was an officer of the Royal Navy. He saw service during the American War of Independence, as well as the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, eventually ri ...

, 1803 – 1804 *

Rear-Admiral of the White The Rear-Admiral of the White was a senior rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, immediately outranked by the rank Rear-admiral of the red (see order of precedence below). Royal Navy officers currently holding the ranks of commodore, ...

–

James Vashon Admiral James Vashon (9 August 1742 – 20 October 1827)Memorial plaque in St. Laurence Churchyard, Ludlow. Find a Grave memorial I160048028/ref> was a British officer of the Royal Navy. He saw service during the Seven Years' War, the American ...

–April 1804-1808 (promoted 9.11.1805 Rear-Admiral of the Red) * Rear-Admiral of the Red– Edmund Nagle–July 1808 - 1812 (promoted to V.Adm July 1810) * Rear-Admiral

William Johnstone Hope Vice Admiral Sir William Johnstone Hope, GCB (16 August 1766 – 2 May 1831) was a prominent and controversial British Royal Navy officer and politician in late eighteenth and early nineteenth century Britain, whose career experienced fleet ...

Nov. 1813 - August 1818 * Rear-Admiral: Robert Waller Otway August 1818 – 24 November 1821 * Vice-Admiral Sir John P. Beresford 1821-1825

References

{{Royal Navy fleets, state=collapsed Commanders-in-chief of the Royal Navy Military units and formations established in 1745 Military units and formations disestablished in 1825