The Jamaica Station was a

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of the

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 European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

Royal 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 ...

stationed at

Port Royal Port Royal is a village located at the end of the Palisadoes, at the mouth of Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1494 by the Spanish, it was once the largest city in the Caribbean, functioning as the centre of shipping an ...

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of Hispan ...

from 1655 to 1830.

History

The station was formed, following the capture of

, by assembling about a dozen frigates in 1655. The first "Admiral and General-at-Sea" was Sir William Penn.Cundall, p. xx Its main objectives in the early years were to defend Jamaica and to harass Spanish ports and shipping. In the late 1720s three successive commanders of the station lost their lives to tropical diseases while undertaking a

Blockade of Porto Bello The Blockade of Porto Bello was a failed British naval action against the Spanish port of Porto Bello in present-day Panama between 1726 and 1727 as part of the Anglo-Spanish War. The British were attempting to blockade the port to stop the ...

during the Anglo-Spanish War. The general ill-health associated with the station continued throughout the century. An assessment of Navy strength at the Jamaica station in 1742 found around 3,000 men were fit to serve out of a total Navy complement of 6,620. A Navy hospital was constructed in 1745 but its location was poor and many patients brought in for shipboard diseases developed additional tropical illnesses while in the hospital itself. A report to the Admiralty in 1749 found that the hospital was "rather a hurt to the avyService than a Relief." The station merged with the North American Station to form the

North America and West Indies 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 th ...

in 1830. The station closed in 1830, but the Royal Navy continued to operate the dockyard until it closed it in 1905. An earthquake in 1907 and hurricane in 1951 damaged the abandoned dockyard. Part of the station now houses the headquarters of the Jamaica Defence Coast Guard (HMJS ''Cagway'', Port Royal); the rest is being restored as part of the Port Royal Heritage Tourism Project.

Commanders-in-Chief

Commanders included:
= died in post

Naval Commanders-in-Chief at Jamaica

* Vice-Admiral Sir William Penn (1655) * Vice-Admiral

William Goodsonn Vice Admiral William Goodsonn (1610in or after 1680), also William Goodson, was an English naval officer. Early career William Goodsonn joined the Parliamentary cause during the Second English Civil War in 1647. During the First Anglo-Dutch War ...

(1655–57) * Vice-Admiral

Christopher Myngs Vice Admiral Sir Christopher Myngs (sometimes spelled ''Mings'', 1625–1666) was an English naval officer and privateer. He came of a Norfolk family and was a relative of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell. Samuel Pepys' story of Myngs' humble bi ...

(1656–57) * Colonel William Mitchell (1662) * Vice-Admiral

(1662–64) * Captain Sir Thomas Whetstone (1663) * Admiral

Henry Morgan Sir Henry Morgan ( cy, Harri Morgan; – 25 August 1688) was a privateer, plantation owner, and, later, Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. From his base in Port Royal, Jamaica, he raided settlements and shipping on the Spanish Main, becoming ...

(1669) * Admiral the

Duke of York Duke of York is a title of nobility in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of List of English monarchs, English (later List of British monarchs, British) monarchs. ...

(1676) * Commodore Ralph Wrenn (1692) * Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Wheler (1693) * Vice-Admiral John Benbow (1702) * Commodore

William Whetstone Sir William Whetstone (died 1711) was an officer of the Royal Navy in the later 17th and early eighteenth century. He eventually rose to the rank of rear admiral, having spent his career serving with several distinguished figures. Family and ea ...

(1702–03) * Vice-Admiral

John Graydon Vice-Admiral John Graydon ( – 12 March 1726) was an English officer of the Royal Navy. He was active during the Nine Years War and the War of the Spanish Succession. Life In June 1686 Graydon was appointed lieutenant of ; in May 1688 first l ...

(1703) * Rear-Admiral Sir William Whetstone (1705–06) * Commodore William Kerr (1706) * Rear-Admiral Sir John Jennings (1706) * Rear Admiral

Charles Wager Admiral Sir Charles Wager (24 February 1666 – 24 May 1743) was a Royal Navy officer and politician who served as First Lord of the Admiralty from 1733 to 1742. Despite heroic active service and steadfast administration and diplomatic servic ...

(1707–09) * Commodore James Littleton (1710–12) * Rear-Admiral

Sir Hovenden Walker Rear-Admiral Sir Hovenden Walker (1656 or 1666 – 1725 or 1728) was a British naval officer noted for, during Queen Anne's War, having led an abortive 1711 expedition against Quebec City, then the capital of New France. Early career Walker ...

(1712–13) * Commodore

Edward Vernon Admiral Edward Vernon (12 November 1684 – 30 October 1757) was an English naval officer. He had a long and distinguished career, rising to the rank of admiral after 46 years service. As a vice admiral during the War of Jenkins' Ear, in 1 ...

(1720) * Vice-Admiral

Francis Hosier Vice Admiral Francis Hosier (1673–1727) was a British naval officer. He was a lieutenant on Rooke's flagship at the Battle of Barfleur in 1693. He captured the ''Heureux'' off Cape Clear in 1710 and distinguished himself in action with the ...

(1726–27) * Commodore

Edward St. Lo Rear Admiral Edward St. Lo (died 14 April 1729) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Jamaica Station. He may have been the son of the Commissioner of the Navy, George St. Lo. Naval career St. Lo was promoted to post ...

(1727) * Vice Admiral Edward Hopson (1728) * Rear-Admiral

(1728–29) * Commodore William Smith (1729) * Rear-Admiral Charles Stewart (1730–32) * Commodore

Richard Lestock Admiral Richard Lestock (22 February 1679 – 17 December 1746) was an officer in the Royal Navy, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral. He fought in a number of battles, and was a controversial figure, most remembered for his part in the de ...

(1732) * Commodore Sir Chaloner Ogle (1732–35) * Captain Digby Dent (1736–37) * Commodore Sir Chaloner Ogle (1737–39) * Admiral

(1739–42) * Rear-Admiral Sir Chaloner Ogle (1742–44) * Vice-Admiral

Thomas Davers Vice-Admiral Thomas Davers (1689 – 16 September 1746) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Jamaica Station. Naval career Born the third son of Sir Robert Davers, 2nd Baronet, Davers was promoted to post captain in ...

(1744–46) * Captain

Cornelius Mitchell Captain Cornelius Mitchell (died 1749) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Jamaica Station. Naval career Mitchell was promoted to post captain on 14 June 1731 on appointment to the command of the fourth-rate HMS ''L ...

(1746) * Captain Digby Dent (1747) * Rear-Admiral Charles Knowles (1747–48) * Captain Polycarpus Taylor (1748) * Commodore George Townshend (1749–52) * Rear-Admiral George Townshend (1755–57) * Rear-Admiral Thomas Cotes (1757–60) * Rear-Admiral

Charles Holmes Sir Charles John Holmes, KCVO (11 November 1868, Preston, Lancashire – 7 December 1936, Kensington, London) was a British painter, art historian and museum director. His writing on art combined theory with practice, and he was an expert on ...

(1760–61) * Commodore Sir James Douglas (1762) * Rear-Admiral Augustus Keppel (1762–64) * Rear-Admiral

William Burnaby Sir William Burnaby, 1st Baronet (c. 17101776) was a British naval officer who became Commander-in-Chief, Jamaica Station. Naval career Burnaby was the son of John Burnaby of Kensington. He entered the navy and was promoted to lieutenant in 173 ...

(1764–66) * Rear-Admiral William Parry (1766–69) * Commodore Arthur Forrest (1769–70) * Rear-Admiral

George 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 ...

(1771–74) * Vice-Admiral

Clark Gayton Clark Gayton is an American multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer and musicians' rights advocate. Biography Born as Carver Clark Gayton Jr. to Carver Clark Gayton and Mona Marie Lombard, Clark Gayton is a professional musician (trombone, ...

(1774–78) * Vice-Admiral Peter Parker (1778–82) * Vice-Admiral Joshua Rowley (1782–83) * Vice-Admiral James Gambier (1783–84) * Captain

John Pakenham Vice-Admiral John Pakenham (1743–1807) was a Royal Navy officer who became Commander-in-Chief of the Jamaica Station. Naval career Promoted to post captain in 1780, Pakenham briefly served as Commander-in-Chief of the Jamaica Station in 17 ...

(1785) * Captain Alan Gardner (1785) * Rear-Admiral

Alexander Innes Rear-Admiral Alexander Innes (died 1786) was a Royal Navy officer who became Commander-in-Chief of the Jamaica Station. Naval career Promoted to post captain on 25 June 1756, Innes was given command of the sixth-rate HMS ''Mermaid'' in 1756. ...

(1786) * Commodore Alan Gardner (1786–89) * Rear-Admiral Philip Affleck (1790–1793) * Commodore

John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), known professionally as John Ford, was an American film director and naval officer. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation. He ...

(1793–95) * Rear-Admiral William Parker (1796) * Commodore

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 r ...

(1796) * Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker (1796–1800) * Vice-Admiral

Lord Hugh Seymour Vice-Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour (29 April 1759 – 11 September 1801) was a senior British Royal Navy officer of the late 18th century who was the fifth son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford, and became known for being both a p ...

(1800–01) * Rear-Admiral Robert Montague (1802) * Vice-Admiral Sir John Duckworth (1803–04) * Vice-Admiral James Richard Dacres (1804–08) * Vice-Admiral

Bartholomew Rowley Admiral Sir Bartholomew Samuel Rowley (10 June 1764 – 7 October 1811) was a British naval officer who served during the American, French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Biography He was second son of Vice-Admiral Sir Joshua Rowley, and ...

(1809–11) * Commodore James Giles Vashon (1811) * Vice-Admiral Charles Stirling (1811–12) * Rear-Admiral William Brown (1813–14) * Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane (1814–15) * Rear-Admiral

John Erskine Douglas Admiral John Erskine Douglas (c. 1758 – 25 July 1847) was a senior British Royal Navy officer of the early nineteenth century who served in a number of vessels and participated at the destruction of the French ship of the line ''Impétueux' ...

(1816–17) * Rear-Admiral Sir Home Riggs Popham (1817–20) * Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Rowley (1820–23)

Commander-in-Chief, West Indies

* Commodore Edward Owen (1823) * Vice Admiral

Lawrence Halsted Admiral Sir Lawrence William Halsted GCB (2 April 1764 – 22 April 1841) was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Halsted was the son of a nav ...

(1824–27) * Vice-Admiral Charles Elphinstone Fleeming (1828–29)

Sub commands

References

Sources

* * * Cundall, Frank (1915). "Historic Jamaica : With fifty-two illustrations". archive.org. London : Published for the Institute of Jamaica by the West India Committee, pp. 28–31. *

External links

A voyage to the islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, St. Christophers and Jamaica : with the natural history of the herbs and trees, four-footed beasts, fishes, birds, insects, reptiles, &c. of the last of those islands; to which is prefix'd an introduction, wherein is an account of the inhabitants, air, waters, diseases, trade &c of that place, with some relations concerning the neighbouring continent, and islands of America ... by Hans Sloane London : printed by B.M. R. Bentley and M. Magnes for the author, 1707-1725 (contains map of Jamaica Station). Royal Geographical Society of South Australia
{{Royal Navy fleets Commands of the Royal Navy Military units and formations established in 1655 Military units and formations disestablished in 1830