admiral sir 1st june november officer british_royal_navy saw action battles extensive career punctuated number highly controversial incidents curtis served american revolutionary war french revolutionary wars highly praised conflict bravery fire great siege gibraltar saved spanish lives great risk career suffered aftermath glorious june heavily criticised conduct influential figures including popularity fell involvement highly controversial courts martial ultimately curtis career stalled popular successful officers secured active positions napoleonic wars curtis relegated staff duties ashore action died inherited second son later admiral fleet modern historians viewed curtis cautious officer period attacking tactics admired contemporary opinion divided influential officers expressing admiration curtis contempt early career born gentleman farmer wiltshire named wife curtis travelled portsmouth joined royal_navy aboard final year seven years war curtis action treaty paris soon transferred aboard service west_africa years curtis moved assistance portsmouth sloop newfoundland curtis joined frigate moving ship line promoted lieutenant shortly promotion curtis joined small brig newfoundland spent years operating coastline familiar local geography peoples region report wrote lord curtis opined inland regions barren coast ideal place seasonal fishery formed good opinion native people healthy peaceful lifestyle curtis numerous coast formed close links tribes missionaries region notes despatches presented accusations later surfaced observations notes local officer captain time canadian waters curtis friends governor curtis patron assisted transfer new_york following year american revolutionary war underway curtis promoted commander given sloop hms curtis performed new command year later promoted noticed lord howe howe curtis captain flagship men close friends curtis returned britain eagle refused carry order sail ship far_east refusal earned lord sandwich december year married punishment curtis unemployed years secured new frigate service mediterranean ordered gibraltar brilliant attacked superior spanish squadron close fortress forced escape british held curtis lieutenant complained extensively captain refusal leave port enemy shipping passed harbour curtis waiting ship relief convoy met safely gibraltar bringing supplies defenders great siege gibraltar progress curtis personally opposed british possession gibraltar took command marine unit siege attack spanish floating batteries september curtis took men harbour small boats engage enemy operation curtis witnessed destruction batteries british able rescue hundreds burnt drowning spanish sailors water rescue effort carried close proximity enemy force constant danger burning spanish ships boats debris caused casualties crews lord howe relieved siege brought celebrated curtis britain service society figure featuring newspaper prints came attack published pamphlet accusing lack nerve time brilliant curtis sent morocco renew treaties country remained gibraltar accepting spanish peace treaty delegates war end brilliant paid curtis remained employment peace commanding portsmouth placed half pay speculated period conducted secret mission scandinavia ensure british supplies naval materials region event war spanish armament curtis briefly flag captain hms queen charlotte howe soon transferred captain deal outbreak deadly infectious fever successful controlling disease later published advisory pamphlet techniques officers follow faced aboard ships french revolutionary war service outbreak french revolutionary wars curtis returned joined lord howe head channel_fleet howe led fleet sea search french grain convoy month fruitless searching discovered left harbour sailing meet convoy howe gave chase gradually closed rearguard fighting inconclusive actions atlantic campaign june howe caught french fleet brought battle battle glorious june action hard fought curtis ship heavily engaged fighting french ships line simultaneously closing stages battle aged howe retired cabin curtis given responsibility flagship consequently fleet day exactly curtis fault established series unusual decisions british failed pursue defeated french fleet allowing battered french ships escape sent admiralty concerning action praised certain officers excluded awards presented captains served battle given based praise captain received report omitted excluded medal celebrating victory honours howe ultimate responsibility blamed curtis slight rumoured taken decision abandon pursuit subsequently penned report howe curtis subsequent actions increased distrust felt fellow officers curtis granted role action captain faced court martial national disgrace considered failure engage enemy battle curtis stood prosecutor case subsequently dismissed ship effectively service result curtis prosecution captains overlooked subsequently described curtis creature manners confidence attacks grasp honours profits come view years following battle curtis brief periods command hms powerful hms invincible hms formidable promoted rear admiral raised flag hms prince prince curtis led blockade brest fleet mutiny overall command naval operations succeeded destroying driving french force sent support irish rebellion culminating present later year joined lord squadron ships line soon vice admiral retired ashore staff service curtis remaining career based series shore stations initially cape_town reportedly hated promoted admiral subsequently employed britain civil affairs majesty navy role important position curtis performed introducing beneficial reforms service curtis eldest son roger post captain navy died suddenly duty years naval service curtis took final command commander chief portsmouth performed significant duty presided highly controversial court martial examining conduct lord battle roads battle failed support captain lord missed opportunity destroy infuriated attempted block proposed vote thanks awarded reduced victory parliament responded demanding court martial pass judgement actions fought glorious june friends years curtis counted authority strong favour accused instructions admiralty curtis officers judging case found favour trial inevitably ended court behaviour marked zeal judgement ability anxious attention welfare majesty service curtis retired trial died years later peaceful retirement followed year later wife shortly death order bath surviving son inherited experienced post captain lost ship battle grand port subsequent court martial eventually admiral fleet highly controversial career noted number prominent public disputes resulted bitterness curtis fellow officers brave actions gibraltar prompted naming archipelago small islands australia tasmania islands apparently given physical similarity gibraltar modern authors criticised curtis caution time officers applauded bravery contemporary opinion divided despite detractors knew service mediterranean described able officer man named honour port curtis queensland australia named curtis assisted repairs ship hms investigator cape_town october book sources royal_navy history isbn editor robert fleet battle blockade isbn editor robert victory isbn james william naval history great britain volume reissued isbn web sources curtis sir roger national biography subscription required curtis sir dictionary
Roger Curtis