royal_navy officer february officer royal_navy politician saw service seven years war american war independence french revolutionary wars eventually rising rank admiral blue entered navy serving merchant vessels distinguished number actions seven years war including cutting secured rank post captain end conflict instrumental establishing securing british settlement years peace followed performed service transporting king sister active service outbreak war american colonies took command ship line saw action engagements active capturing heated battle irish coast service followed parker fleet dutch channel ended war serving ashore ireland embarked political career plymouth promoted flag rank outbreak war commanded squadrons enemy coasts transported troops support land operations continent active service promoted admiral blue shortly death family early life born scotland second son presbyterian minister moved ireland shortly john birth robert minister county john brother noted medical writer initially went sea merchant service joined navy able years later served aboard gun hms west_indies number years returning british wars serving aboard flagship downs months passed lieutenant examination october received commission october moved hired cutter grace august came french anchored contact frigate asked captain armed manned boats captain readily agreed clock night boats left british ships approached came pistol shot hailed french vessel receiving reply boarded british boarded sides vessel carried ship men wounded shot killed french lieutenant aimed gun british boat total french losses dead wounded having secured vessel british took sea guns french battery good service brought promotion master commander april appointment command moved command sloop hms rank commander time spent home station received promotion post captain june took command gun hms renown followed august command gun mission establish colony arrived january orders secure settlement inform existing inhabitants islands british possession british consolidated port cruises surrounding waters december came french settlement meeting informed french governor british claim french rejected unbeknownst established french settlement agreed sell colony spain resulting tensions spanish british claims nearly lead war meantime returned home reporting situation government later published page monograph probably entitled journal winds weather february january interwar years return britain given command gun august employed cruise english channel spent years aboard transferring command gun march followed gun august year command southampton received orders command small squadron tasked transporting queen denmark norway sister king squadron consisted southampton commands april took command american war independence outbreak war american colonies appointed command gun hms november present battle july heavily engaged confused action ensuing argument outcome battle gave evidence favour admiral important factor court martial supportive sir remained command december joined sir fleet relieve gibraltar voyage british fleet came spanish convoy transporting naval stores engaged british succeeded capturing convoy distinguished engaging spanish flagship surrendered january fleet encountered spanish ships time spanish fleet admiral engaged thick action took ship engage san domingo narrowly escaping significant damage opponent blew went chase capture flagship gun sent lieutenant aboard possession smallpox outbreak raging usual step transferring captured officers men aboard ship instead reached agreement ships encounter french spanish force allow defended escaped men consider prisoners war escaped taken men freed event ships gibraltar incident given honour taking despatches britain set delayed adverse winds consequently despatches arrived days identical set reached london delivered captain left later faster voyage connection fleet returned britain march rejoined early august large french gun reported sailed brest cruise irish south coast ordered sail company gun hms capture dangerous vessel days search vessel mysterious sail finally sighted early august chasing ships convoy departing ranged fell unidentified ship hoisted english colours ships came pistol shot communication ships satisfied identity ships close bow ship bring main guns bear instead ships opened fire muskets manoeuvre away general action ensued hour minutes french vessel surrendered having killed wounded killed wounded joined action end engagement single man wounded capture unusual sequel year later different captain captured time named coincidence appointed january command gun french ship captured served north_sea sir fleet fought dutch battle bank august battle parker temporarily moved gun hms princess captain killed battle resumed command fleet return port continued cruise north_sea december engaged captured large gun dutch hercules mars men killed wounded mars killed wounded hercules man killed wounded operating channel april sent scout ahead main force admiral aimed intercept french squadron left brest bound sighted force april alerted british moved day following captured half french force success appointed irish station june worked impress service cruised lieutenant years peace end war america left june able obtain command gun hms commanded end year temporarily unemployed sea took opportunity enter politics elected plymouth holding seat gave speeches naval matters sat duke richmond commission defences portsmouth plymouth opposed plan naval commission parliament returned active command took plymouth gun threat spanish armament took cumberland join fleet assembling lord howe french revolutionary wars promoted rear admiral february general promotion following outbreak war commander chief downs station commanding frigate squadron flag cumberland later transferring flag gun took possession french retreat early october transported reinforcements general sir assist defence took command gun hms flora end year sailed portsmouth december carrying army earl support french brittany normandy following service took command small squadron western approaches flying flag number different vessels including sloop gun hms gun squadron achieve significant successes break leg mounting horse forcing temporarily relinquish duties promoted rear admiral red april july vice admiral blue promoted vice admiral white june commander squadron north_sea assigned watch dutch fleet flying flag gun hms russell stepped post late actively employed sea promoted admiral blue february admiral died seizure london february family issue married early career details known wife daughter naval officer presumed died married eldest daughter hall norfolk july son principal oxford daughter charlotte married admiral lake
John MacBride (Royal Navy officer)