1st earl admiral fleet john 1st earl january march admiral royal_navy united_kingdom served half 18th century 19th active commander seven years war american war independence french revolutionary war napoleonic wars best known victory battle cape saint vincent earned titles patron recognised political military contemporaries fine administrator naval reformer commander chief mediterranean introduced series severe standing orders mutiny applied orders seamen officers alike policy controversial figure took system command took command channel_fleet lord admiralty introduced number reforms unpopular time navy efficient self sufficient introduced innovations including block making machinery known officers considered worthy reward swift harsh punishment felt deserved entry national biography describes contribution history importance lies victories creator equipped highly efficient fleets training school officers professional energetic devoted service early life born january second son father intended son follow bar young educated subsequently reverend academy london family pronounced originates norman early naval career age thirteen ran away joined navy london short time returned home heard family upset disappearance mother sir aware desire join navy lobbied family behalf eventually introduced family admiral agreed boy aboard ships january entered navy able aboard gun gloucester way jamaica arrival west_indies detached sloop saw constant service spanish quit west_indies discharged admiral flag captain rated july moved gun commented letter sister chief employ duty reading studying navigation old letters volume jamaica young drew funds father account local banker reply came england withdrawal honoured found debt forced quit mess live ship rations order pay loan event deeply affected young swore draw bill certainty paid paid november assigned gun december year end december february assigned mary navigational expert captain passed lieutenant examination january assigned sixth lieutenant rate guns march moved lieutenant gun nottingham nottingham fleet attempted prevent french reinforcements reaching march moved gun june promoted fourth lieutenant gun prince captain mediterranean captain promoted admiral followed gun november january promoted temporary command fought large french action captain experiment regained health moved june followed gun hms george returned england temporary command gun ship captured fleet battle followed admiral promoted command north american station promoted lieutenant hms prince quebec promotion captain fleet expedition capture french possessions north_america left england february stopped captured french previous year june ice saint lawrence river broken fleet military transports headed river assault promoted acting commander sloop command impressed general preparations led frigate halifax led armed transports past quebec land river biographer notes approach critical subsequently famous boarded ensure success mission efforts promoted commander took command returned england september immediately returned north_america command albany attached admiral sir channel squadron october post captain command gun board young later keith took command mediterranean departure captain east west indian trade westward successfully protected squadron end paid remained unemployed february appointed gun hms alarm warship royal_navy tasked delivering english merchants genoa time genoa turkish slaves escaped hid aboard alarm boats forcibly removed official protest promised retaliation handed slaves produced took custody march alarm driven ashore efforts crew local french authorities governor brought repaired personally returned letter thanks governor assistance alarm returned england collect duke gloucester king brother order winter italy lived aboard entourage alarm returned england paid russia october june travelled extensively began france studied language observations french life accompanied captain russia spent time saint_petersburg inspected arsenal took tour yacht designed sir catherine russia pair continued sweden denmark northern germany notes defences harbour charts safe came home netherlands making extensive studies area taking notes describing useful information took private cruise channel coast calling including brest making improving charts went later commander chief channel_fleet aided significantly blockade brest charts later years commented young captain performed complete survey port earl vincent able effect thorough blockade american war independence battle outbreak american war independence given command surveyed dockyard found unfit service appointed instead command ship brought england prize seventeen years earlier years war french supplied arms funding military advice informal limited basis newly emerging nation america signing treaty alliance creation franco american alliance war widened spent years war patrolling channel seeing significant action war reached placed command admiral channel fleet sighted french fleet intending enter brest july british fleet ships line chased french fleet ships engaged july known battle political aftermath provided defence admiral court martial helping secure capture remained attached channel_fleet short time acted flag captain admiral admiral british fleet relieved gibraltar admiral second relief gibraltar april old friend travelling companion ship admiral squadron sighted french convoy leaving brest squadron gave chase caught engaged french gun engagement hour struck wounded attack services invested knight bath relief gibraltar fleet took promoted commodore hoisted broad pennant gun december orders proceed west_indies peace negotiations orders rescinded struck pennant january marriage political office peace married cousin martha daughter lord chief baron sir returned began political career earnest voted parliamentary reforms elections stood election independent borough great returned alongside voted bills reform supported regency crisis september promoted rear admiral blue hoisted flag gun months tensions arising prussian invasion netherlands recalled service moved flag second rate prince sound crisis threatened war england spain promoted rear admiral white stood great stood instead seat returned alongside interest politics spoke rarely exclusively naval matters resigned seat stand political office proposed scheme alleviate financial seamen later withdrew proposal promised matter addressed napoleonic wars promoted vice admiral blue appointed command leeward_islands station took army combined navy formed joint military expedition goal expedition capture french colonies weaken france international trade army commander sir friend political ally hoisted flag hms took grey son captain later sir 1st flag captain combined forces captured french colonies martinique guadeloupe restored rule french counter attacked recaptured guadeloupe june grey landed force recapture island repulsed reinforced french garrison british expedition withdrew november admiral replaced disputes prize money widely held reason grey awarded service grey enemies proposed vote general admiral vote negative prize money capture islands finally calculated amounted officers men navy adjusted inflation equal approximately grey awarded thanks services april promoted vice admiral white promoted admiral blue june appointed command mediterranean_fleet unfortunately caught fire blown result accident lost possessions went command mediterranean fleet frigate lively took son captain flag captain took captain fleet arrival gibraltar took hms victory flagship subordinates began close blockade toulon nelson assigned task aiding austrian army italian coast september british presence mediterranean napoleon beaten britain austrian allies disarray october spain surrendered allied french recalled admiral aid blockade took ships instead abandoned september november withdrew forces gibraltar spanish fleet line battle ships seven frigates sailed toulon february fleet ships line patrolling subsequently joined sir spanish admiral taken ships atlantic weather storm making way fleets caught sight battle cape vincent british spanish fleet sighted dawn february british fleet line battle ships spanish ships quarter deck victory flag captain counted ships point discovered outnumbered nearly sail line sir john sir sail line sir john sir sail line sir john sir seven sail line sir sir die cast sail passenger aboard victory captain achieved brief notoriety admiral calling right sir john right god shall damned good battle nelson command hms captain wore line performed stunning feat capturing enemy vessels moments nelson crew boarded captured crossed deck boarded captured second collided smoke general melee battle later public press dubbed nelson patent bridge boarding rates spanish retreated press advantage consolidated victory began lengthy job repairing ships crews british suffered casualties killed wounded sir john mention nelson achievement initial admiralty despite nelson obvious contribution success battle later despatches mention nelson discussing battle flag captain sir robert mentioned awarded services brought issue nelson admiral orders having worn line battle order engage enemy saying certainly commit breach orders forgive despite capture vessels celebrated outstanding victory awards recognition far achievement bad news evacuation mediterranean capitulation spanish italian city states defeat austrian army alongside increasing threat french invasion britain depressed politicians general public victory important morale country military nelson hailed heroes baron songs written battle general feeling relief government people britain nelson services invested knight bath gifted pension life year presented freedom city gold box valued awarded nelson ceremonial sword presentation box sword currently held swords awarded nelson kind city london issued awarded thanks given gold medal king london gazette published advertisement prize money officers men fought battle sum quoted terms approximately admiral entitled share resumed blockade spanish fleet mutiny discipline considerable discontent seamen royal_navy discontent manifested greater channel_fleet rose officers overly violent officers ashore heads established order kept ships committee control collective demands met demands ranged discontent cruel officers poor pay long sea service shore leave navy year notably hms jamaica station resulted crews killing officers taking ships enemy held ports reputation place new system ensure men mediterranean fleet mutiny begin admiral wrote new set standing orders example divided seamen marines separately putting marines officers aft men forward created effective barrier officers potentially crews discouraged conversation irish ban ordered marine detachments morning band available god save king played marine detachment remain armed times marines soldiers duties regard general running ship order crews active ensure spanish perceive discontent fleet ordered nightly bombardment words divert animal admiral isolated ships opportunities men band mutiny ensure men command cared stock tobacco ran low admiral ensured supply renewed funds lisbon detained letters arriving england men fear carry communications set post office aboard flagship paris receive distribute letters arrived seamen marines officers strictly adhered articles war individual regulations written fleet dealt harshly renowned treating officers seamen harsh discipline example officer allowed boats crew fishing boat placed court martial ordered degraded rank manner having uniform stripped quarter deck ship unknown sic ship company disposed commander chief shall direct pay services board ship majesty service rendered incapable serving officer petty officer majesty ships later personally directed head shaved notice hung neck describing crime solely responsible cleaning head naval term communal toilets situated bow ship notice incident instructed men aboard hms george tried mutiny saturday executed sunday men duly executed admiral raised objection formal executions wrote demanding thompson removal accept resignation board relieved thompson july nelson wrote resolve supporting decision execute men sunday exceptionally kind felt situation occasion fleet men flagship ordered men swim sail lowered men senior able jumped wearing trousers pockets prize money pay saving years bank notes destroyed water man came aboard discovered happened began admiral saw man asked problem officers told went cabin returned crew mustered called man forward convicted sir appearance british oak tears defence receive deserve man told happened replied best men ship captain life saw man behave better battle victory action spanish fleet commander chief pass merit find money sir earl produced money presented surprised sailor tears mind tears sir nelson returned wrote lord admiralty assure arrival admiral nelson given new life sending presence mediterranean essential detached nelson pursue napoleon invasion egypt rear admiral sir senior nelson complained publicly considered personal slight ordered home requested court order opportunity clear board refused requested brought court martial board refused having supported subordinates later challenged admiral duel challenge public knowledge king ordered decline challenge formally declined wrote board inform withdrawn men aboard refused execute man behaviour captain earl threatened captain replacement boats rest fleet armed surround threatened sink ship orders carried man duly executed turned officer watching hanging yard arm said discipline preserved sir alongside suppression mutiny set task improving defences gibraltar including building new yard water tanks ships battle eye managed successfully repair fleet wife wrote having provided necessary tools nelson achieved victory zeal friendship meet brighter reward victory friend nelson commented fleet equal sir having great difficulty supplying fleet fresh water admiral arranged large tanks built gibraltar february created admiral white constant service approaching old age meant admiral increasingly despite failing health reluctant relinquish command board reluctant june choice resign command return england time ashore earl lived essex wife health improved given command channel_fleet comment king government require discipline demands consequence die afloat ashore die cast took command channel fleet april took close blockade brest brest transferred guns took sir captain fleet accompanied personal physician doctor later instrumental plans commander chief health channel fleet appointment popular officers channel fleet reputation strict followed mediterranean immediately issued orders banning officers captains sleeping ashore forbade travelling miles ship strict regulations introduced orders ships repaired possible sea official rendezvous channel fleet traditional wife captains said news appointment line glass wine choke ships forbidden specific written orders admiral admiralty command remained fleet respected officers men suffering hardships charts squadron brest able blockade incident squadron sighted french ships leaving brest sir captain gave chase rear admiral charge squadron recalled worried run aground french escaped letters went forth tired subordinate took entire offshore squadron sailed squadron shore proving ships shallow draught given chase captured french wrote rear admiral suggested strike flag return shore needed rest generous channel mediterranean particular letter england admiral host dinner aboard flagship officers felt closest dinner revealed letter near london run money support children sailors died service country captain lieutenant sum money added donation cutter sailed england evening gave skills administrator came play issued orders health fleet wrote commenting considered care sick wounded duties commander chief sea land based doctor advice admiral brought fresh vegetables vast quantities fresh lemon juice illness particularly effect dramatic hospital ship accompanied fleet sent home november fleet came anchor sixteen hospital cases estimated thousand men letter sir secretary admiralty described valuable man navy board oncoming winter forced admiral live ashore overlooking vice admiral sir took operational command fleet absence letter famous remark lords french come come sea replaced admiral new prime minister promoted lord admiralty lord admiralty january written short letter lord stating short radical sweep cure enormous attempted till peace lord intended investigate discover remove corruption considered plagued navy civilian administration consequently clashed civil administration royal_navy administered things navy yards stores saw boards individuals efforts navy peace france treaty signed march ordered begin investigation fraud corruption swiftly found investigations conducted effectively ordered commissioners retrieve logs accounts personal seal anticipation travelling yards conducting inspection investigation began earnest swiftly uncovered casual obvious abuses system men listed having work time acted night years break kind listed ashore sailors receiving pay work identical work charged periods different departments sections yard men entire department found old boys department appearance asylum rogue obtain meal means found minor dockyard officials tip far bigger corruption lobbied government create special commission inquiry power question suspects oath cabinet determined outcome inquiry damaging politically possibly cases personally gave board inquiry permission question suspects oath gave suspects right refuse answer questions removed ability inquiry act effectively way produced reports chatham chest pension fund seamen blocks naval money prize causes merchant seamen economy naval yards naval hospitals hospital ships french prisoners plymouth plymouth expenditure stores plymouth office treasurer navy issue purchase stores particularly masts fir biographers findings commission valuable british oak forests want axe frames building stocks want timber ships sea day constructed worthless materials reform reform achieve introduction block making machinery navy yard portsmouth machinery designed machines turning blocks year innovation meant thirty men able equal output skilled capital cost project recovered years revolution machinery enabled navy self sufficient regard production essential blocks self removed great deal corruption external contractors producing inferior goods sailors lives corruption arose poorly paid officials responsible awarding contracts bribes buildings housed remain day lord determined build plymouth lord commissioned civil engineer dockyard design work begin earl widely credited force construction spoke king contribution marines general service navy recommended king prefix royal added official discussions corps tenure workers royal demanded increase pay increase living costs reacted dismissing man taken active role strike eventually agreed small temporary purchase bread price bread remained high gaze passed aspect navy navy hospitals earl attempted sea claiming needed quiet fears little old ladies good men passed careers hearing shot fired doctor personal physician appointed sick inspector hospitals powers promote burden promotion lord admiralty inundated letters aspiring officers relatives friends employment positions influence navy common practice generally accepted method securing good posting influence officer draw better lucrative position peace france navy reduced employment scarce lord provide officer influence position obliged reject letters received despite having declared publicly privately officers promoted given position achievements based political social influence letters continued flow admiralty ways chose communicate depended number letters individual concerned demands respective earl portsmouth wrote possibly agree opinion person sitting quietly enjoying nearly war engaged promotion man exposed person constitution harsh peer realm lady rank influence wrote admit force argument favour captain unknown sic sister promotion brother apology necessary letter 24th lose time acknowledging famously commander lord captured gun spanish frigate gun sloop hms promotion usual reward feat skill fair argue expected commander friends family unfortunately ship carrying letter victory intercepted received captured french facing court martial loss ship court martial losing ship common practice time cases including cleared court promoted unfortunately commander thought lord deliberately withheld promotion held opinion rest life powerful friends relatives lobbied continuously behalf negative effect career possible irritated resignation lord detailed investigation corruption began caused extremely unpopular influential men involved money making schemes board inquiry set responsible 1st trial public funds enemy naval reform attack lord administration left office replaced prime minister lord second son friend sir came defence assistance moved vote thanks vincent efforts naval reform members parliament opened parliamentary debate condemning unprecedented neglect building repairing ships presided delivering navy successor far efficient state received motion rejected instead foreign secretary proposed vote thanks appears house conduct earl vincent late naval administration added additional character entitled house fox said appointment allow think easy possible find man community better suited capable high office fills distinguished person head admiralty mean earl vincent continued support earl time lord resumption command november promoted admiral red took command channel fleet gun rate tenure command spent time house rented village issued orders effective mediterranean previous channel command orders proved unpopular short time gave command channel fleet second command sir order travel portugal particular mission portugal threat invasion ordered necessary portuguese court colony brazil invasion portugal delayed recalled channel fleet sir led royal family safety brazil long suffered poor health change government led resignation april earl attempted promote merit patronage increasingly frustrated system social rank retirement audience king king asked navy better institution entrance replied stated thought nobility desirable navy gives sort consequence service present navy overrun younger branches nobility sons members parliament swallow patronage choke channel promotion son old officer services little chance getting continued promote son old officer noble land letter dated october lord good lord bring bill parliament officer rank rear admiral sit house_of_commons navy preserved little drunken worthless permitted hold language presence flag officers rank require man greater health possess command fleets presumably referring particular member parliament feelings subject remain clear final years retirement seldom took seat house_of_lords appearance final years gave charities organisations individuals donated wounded survivors relieve starvation ireland donated building jewish chapel london member house_of_lords opposed bill abolish slave trade motives appear practical humanitarian argued britain ban trade simply continued countries britain lose revenue generated weakened accordingly spoke opposition convention spoke condemned failure excluded failure officers men spoke defence lieutenant general sir retreat spain portugal condemned government army commanders failure support thoroughly wife martha died essex couple children winter went recover health france arrived toulon greeted admiral said father french honours honorary lieutenant general marines promoted general positions little carried official duties created title children passed nephew appointed thirty elder brothers elder brothers master form court honoured portugal awarded tower sword order commemorate safe arrival brazil napoleon invaded portugal promoted acting admiral fleet commander chief channel squadron confirmed admiral fleet july sent gold topped symbol office currently held collections january order bath order rearranged prince regent knight grand cross highest rank order death memorial died march children extinct nephew 2nd vincent changed surname honour uncle buried stone family request monument erected legacy ships stone frigates shore establishments named hms honour earl battle won commissioned class class battleship named vincent class battleships included class destroyer launched prior second world war named admiral hms served war known lucky ship despite taking actions lost man enemy fire hms bay armed merchant cruiser lost heroic circumstances indirectly named remembered schools england boarding house named honour england named admiral famous battle officers great age discovery areas world named earl honour gulf vincent south australia new south wales australia named town new south wales named honour british_columbia canada named historiography clearly strong impact napoleonic wars development navy surprisingly contemporary biographies available seriously lacking breadth recent work related english navy focused reforms docks parts life nelson dear lord portrait vincent points merely effort create biography says old oak life john life lord pointing mediocre published article mirror documented early life literature isbn life correspondence john earl admiral fleet life correspondence john earl admiral fleet terry nelson man legend isbn tom companion press isbn brian ship line volume isbn life nelson volume age nelson royal_navy viking adult isbn brian february plymouth history plymouth archived original retrieved february michael command sea naval command control sixteenth century president isbn great_britain volume tucker admiral right earl tucker admiral right earl brian true life naval legend conway maritime press isbn age sail design construction careers isbn empire
John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent