| Sir Peter Parker, Bt | |
|---|---|
 Portrait by Lemuel Francis Abbott, c. 1799 | |
| Born | 1721 |
| Died | 1811 (aged 89–90) (aged 89-90) |
| Place of birth | Kingdom of Ireland |
| Place of death | London |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1743 - 1763, 1773 - 1811 |
| Rank | Admiral of the Fleet |
| Commands held | Portsmouth Command |
| Battles/wars |
Seven Years' War American Revolutionary War |
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Peter Parker, 1st Baronet (1721–1811) was a British naval officer.
[]
Peter Parker was born probably in Ireland. He became a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1743 and captain in 1747.[1] In 1761, he took command of HMS Buckingham and helped cover operations on Belle Île.[1] For 10 years he was out of the service on account of the reduction of the navy. He was knighted in 1772[1] and rejoined the service in 1773.[1] During the American Revolution, he was sent to provide naval support for an expedition reinforcing Loyalists in the Southern Colonies.[1] Parker hoisted his flag aboard HMS Bristol,[1] and on June 28, 1776, led a naval attack against the fortifications on Sullivan's Island (later called Fort Moultrie after their commander), protecting Charleston, South Carolina.[1] After a long and hard-fought battle, Parker was forced to call off the attack, having sustained heavy casualties, including the loss of HMS Actaeon, grounded and abandoned.[1] Lord William Campbell, the last British Governor of the Province of South Carolina, was mortally wounded aboard the Bristol. Commodore Parker was himself wounded by a flying splinter which injured his leg and tore off his breeches, an incident which occasioned much mirth in the newspapers.[1]
He subsequently served under Lord Howe in the invasion and capture of New York City and commanded the squadron that captured Newport, Rhode Island. He subsequently became Commander-in-Chief, North American Waters, and then Commander-in-Chief, Jamaica.[1] At this time, Parker acted as a patron and friend of Horatio Nelson, then serving aboard the Bristol, an attachment which would endure for the remainder of Nelson's life.
He was created baronet in 1783.[2] He was, against his will, returned as MP for Seaford, and would later serve as member for Maldon.[2] In 1793 he became Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.[3]
In 1799 he succeeded Lord Howe as Admiral of the Fleet, and was Chief Mourner at Lord Nelson's funeral in 1806.[2]
Family[]
Among his children were:
- Anne Parker, married George Ellis
- Vice-Admiral Christopher Parker (1761–1804), married Augusta Byron and had issue.
He was succeeded in the baronetcy by Christopher's son Peter.
Notes[]
References[]
- The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 - 1995, Heathcote T. A., Pen & Sword Ltd, 2002, ISBN 0-85052-835-6
External links[]
"Parker, Sir Peter, bart., British naval officer" Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography 1900- "Parker, Peter. A British naval officer". New International Encyclopedia. 1905.
The original article can be found at Sir Peter Parker, 1st Baronet and the edit history here.