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Sir Charles Saunders
Sir Charles Saunders2
Sir Charles Saunders
Born 1715
Died December 7, 1775(1775-12-07)
Allegiance Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors) Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch British-Red-Ensign-1707 Royal Navy
Rank Admiral
Commands held Mediterranean Fleet
Battles/wars Seven Years' War
Awards Knight of the Order of the Bath

Admiral Sir Charles Saunders, KB (c. 1715 – 7 December 1775) was a Royal Navy officer in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and later served as First Lord of the Admiralty. He was appointed to the Privy Council in 1766.

Early career[]

Saunders joined the Royal Navy in 1727.[1] He later commanded HMS Gloucester and then HMS Yarmouth.[1] He was Member of Parliament for UK Parliament constituency from 1750 to 1754 and then represented the Yorkshire borough of UK Parliament constituency from 1754 until his death.[1] In December 1755 he was made comptroller of the navy and in January 1756 and was sent to Gibraltar as Second in Command of the Mediterranean Fleet.[1] In January 1757 he became Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet.[1] He held the post until May 1757.[1]

Seven Years war[]

He commanded the fleet which brought James Wolfe to Quebec in 1759[1] and consolidated the dead general's victory after the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.

In April 1760 he resumed his role as Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet and blockaded Cadiz preventing the French and Spanish fleets from sailing.[1]

Cape Saunders, on the Otago coast of New Zealand, was named in his honour by Captain James Cook, who had served under Saunders in Canada.

References[]

Military offices
Preceded by
Savage Mostyn
Comptroller of the Navy
1755–1756
Succeeded by
George Cockburne
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
Vere Beauclerk
Member of Parliament for Plymouth
1750 – 1754
Succeeded by
The Viscount Barrington
Preceded by
Luke Robinson
John Savile
Member of Parliament for Hedon
with Peter Denis 1754–1768
Beilby Thompson 1768–1775

1754 – 1775
Succeeded by
Beilby Thompson
Lewis Watson
Political offices
Preceded by
The Earl of Egmont
First Lord of the Admiralty
1766
Succeeded by
Sir Edward Hawke
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