Captain Philip de Saumarez (1710–1747) was a British naval officer, notable for his role as captain of ''
HMS Nottingham'' in capturing the French ship ''
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Roman god of war. Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin at ...
'' and as the first lieutenant of
George Anson,1st Baron Anson in his voyage around the world.
He designed what would eventually be the first
uniforms
A uniform is a variety of clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are most often worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, ...
for the
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 ...
.
Early life
Philip de Saumarez was born in 1710, to Matthew de Saumarez and Anne Durell, daughter of John Durell and Ann Dumaresq. Saumarez had many notable naval officers in his family. His uncle was Captain
Thomas Durell who was famous for the capture of the Spanish
Princesa. His nephew was an even more famous de Saumarez,
Admiral James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez
Admiral of the Red James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez (or Sausmarez), GCB (11 March 1757 – 9 October 1836) was an admiral of the British Royal Navy, known for his victory at the Second Battle of Algeciras.
Early life
Saumarez was born ...
. He was also cousins with
Admiral Thomas Dumaresq and
Vice-Admiral Philip Durell
Vice-Admiral Philip Durell (1707 – 26 August 1766) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Port Admiral at Plymouth.
Naval career
Durell joined the Royal Navy as an ordinary seaman in 1721. In 1742 he was appointed post captain on and ...
.
Global expedition
Phillip de Saumarez served as first lieutenant on ''
HMS Centurion'' under commodore
George Anson,1st Baron Anson during his
voyage around the world. As first lieutenant, Saumarez was very involved in the expedition, and at times took active command of the ''
HMS Centurion'', such as at the
Isle of Tinian.
Saumarez also took part in the boarding party and capture of the Spanish ''
Nuestra Señora de Covadonga,'' and became its captain. During this expedition, Saumarez wrote logs for the ''Centurion'' that would later be used by author Leo Heaps in his novel ''Log of the Centurion: Based on the original papers of Captain Philip Saumarez on board HMS Centurion, Lord Anson's flagship during his circumnavigation, 1740-1744.''
Capture of the Mars
While Captain of ''
HMS Nottingham,'' Saumarez would be locked in combat with a French 64-gun ship,
''Mars''. After two hours of combat the ''Nottingham'', under Saumarez, was able to capture the vessel and bring it to
Plymouth.
Naval Uniforms
Philip Saumarez was the original designer of the very first naval officer uniforms for the
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 ...
, as
George Anson and himself would experience the value of a uniform to symbolising service of the Crown while conducting their voyage around the world and meeting with dignitaries and officers of foreign nations. It is said that for one meeting in China the Officers resorted to wearing the uniforms of the
Marines
Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...
on board when such a meeting occurred.
Saumarez would in large be the designer of these new uniforms, however he would die in battle before they were realised.
Death
Captain Saumarez was killed in the
Second Battle of Cape Finisterre
The second battle of Cape Finisterre was a naval encounter fought during the War of the Austrian Succession on 25 October 1747 (N.S.). A British fleet of fourteen ships of the line commanded by Rear-Admiral Edward Hawke intercepted a Frenc ...
while Captain of the ''
HMS Nottingham'' under
Rear-Admiral
Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...
Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke
Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke, KB, PC (21 February 1705 – 17 October 1781), of Scarthingwell Hall in the parish of Towton, near Tadcaster, Yorkshire, was a Royal Navy officer. As captain of the third-rate , he took part in the Battle of ...
. Saumarez is said to have been killed at the end of the battle on October 14, 1747.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saumarez, Philip
1710 births
1747 deaths
18th-century Royal Navy personnel
Royal Navy personnel of the War of the Austrian Succession