Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol
Encyclopedia
Augustus John Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol, PC
(19 May 1724 – 23 December 1779) was a British admiral and politician.
, where his promotion was rapid. He distinguished himself in several encounters with the French, and was of great assistance to Admiral Hawke
in 1759, although he had returned to England before the Battle of Quiberon Bay
in November 1759. Having served with distinction in the West Indies under Rodney, his active life at sea ceased when the Peace of Paris
was concluded in February 1763. He was, however, nominally Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet
in this year, and was made Vice Admiral of the Blue in January 1778. He was known as the English Casanova, due to his colourful personal life.
from 1757 to 1763, and, after being for a short time Member for Saltash
, again represented Bury St Edmunds from 1768 until he succeeded his brother in the earldom of Bristol in 1775. He often took part in debates in Parliament, and was a frequent contributor to periodical literature. Having served as a Lord of the Admiralty from 1771 to 1775 he won some notoriety as an opponent of the Rockingham
ministry and a defender of Admiral Keppel
.
a former artists model of some notoriety. They lived together , apparently faithfully, at his Surrey home of Norwood House and she received property in his will. He made changes to Norwood House including an ornamental lake and a stable. He died due to a gout in the stomach in December 1779, aged 55, and was succeeded by his brother.
Many of his letters are in the Record Office, and his journals in the British Museum
. Other letters are printed in the Grenville Papers, vols. iii. and iv. (Londun, 1852–1853), and the Life of Admiral Keppel, by the Rev. Thomas Keppel (London, 1852). Hervey Bay, Queensland
, a bay and city in Australia
, was named after him by Captain James Cook
while carrying out the survey of the east coast of Australia on the 22 May 1770. Bristol Bay
, the rich salmon fishing ground in southwest Alaska
, was so named in honor of Hervey by Captain James Cook
, who first charted the region in July 1778. Bristol Island
, a five mile long ice-covered quake-prone chain of volcanos in the South Sandwich Islands, was also named in honor of Hervey by Captain James Cook
.
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
(19 May 1724 – 23 December 1779) was a British admiral and politician.
Naval career
As a young man, he entered the NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, where his promotion was rapid. He distinguished himself in several encounters with the French, and was of great assistance to Admiral Hawke
Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke
Admiral of the Fleet Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke KB, PC was an officer of the Royal Navy. He is best remembered for his service during the Seven Years' War, particularly his victory over a French fleet at the Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759, preventing a French invasion of Britain...
in 1759, although he had returned to England before the Battle of Quiberon Bay
Battle of Quiberon Bay
The naval Battle of Quiberon Bay took place on 20 November 1759 during the Seven Years' War in Quiberon Bay, off the coast of France near St. Nazaire...
in November 1759. Having served with distinction in the West Indies under Rodney, his active life at sea ceased when the Peace of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1763)
The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on 10 February 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement. It ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War...
was concluded in February 1763. He was, however, nominally Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
in this year, and was made Vice Admiral of the Blue in January 1778. He was known as the English Casanova, due to his colourful personal life.
Political career
Hervey was Member of Parliament for Bury St EdmundsBury St Edmunds (UK Parliament constituency)
Bury St Edmunds is a county constituency located in Suffolk and centred on the town of Bury St Edmunds. It elects one Member of Parliament to in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
from 1757 to 1763, and, after being for a short time Member for Saltash
Saltash (UK Parliament constituency)
Saltash, sometimes called Essa, was a "rotten borough" in Cornwall which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons in the English and later British Parliament from 1552 to 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act.-History:...
, again represented Bury St Edmunds from 1768 until he succeeded his brother in the earldom of Bristol in 1775. He often took part in debates in Parliament, and was a frequent contributor to periodical literature. Having served as a Lord of the Admiralty from 1771 to 1775 he won some notoriety as an opponent of the Rockingham
Rockingham
-People:* Marquess of Rockingham, a British title of nobility whose holders included:** Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, who was the eighth Prime Minister of the United Kingdom* Cllr...
ministry and a defender of Admiral Keppel
Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel
Admiral Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel PC was an officer of the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the War of American Independence...
.
Personal life
In August 1744 Hervey had been secretly married to Elizabeth Chudleigh (1720–1788), afterwards Duchess of Kingston, but this union was dissolved in 1769. Lord Bristol died leaving no legitimate issue, and having, as far as possible, alienated his property from the title. From 1775 Hervey had taken as his mistress Mary NesbittMary Nesbitt
Mary Nesbitt was an English upper class socialite and courtesan who mixed in the elevated circles of government and royalty in late 18th century Great Britain. Her home, Norwood House, in Upper Norwood, then Surrey, now South London, became a meeting place for the rich and powerful.-Life:She was...
a former artists model of some notoriety. They lived together , apparently faithfully, at his Surrey home of Norwood House and she received property in his will. He made changes to Norwood House including an ornamental lake and a stable. He died due to a gout in the stomach in December 1779, aged 55, and was succeeded by his brother.
Many of his letters are in the Record Office, and his journals in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
. Other letters are printed in the Grenville Papers, vols. iii. and iv. (Londun, 1852–1853), and the Life of Admiral Keppel, by the Rev. Thomas Keppel (London, 1852). Hervey Bay, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, a bay and city in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, was named after him by Captain James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
while carrying out the survey of the east coast of Australia on the 22 May 1770. Bristol Bay
Bristol Bay
Bristol Bay is the eastern-most arm of the Bering Sea, at 57° to 59° North 157° to 162° West in Southwest Alaska. Bristol Bay is 400 km long and 290 km, wide at its mouth...
, the rich salmon fishing ground in southwest Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, was so named in honor of Hervey by Captain James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
, who first charted the region in July 1778. Bristol Island
Bristol Island
Bristol Island is an long island lying midway between Montagu Island and Thule Island in the South Sandwich Islands.Bristol Island is composed of several active volcanoes with eruptions reported in 1823, 1935, 1936, 1950 and 1956.-History:...
, a five mile long ice-covered quake-prone chain of volcanos in the South Sandwich Islands, was also named in honor of Hervey by Captain James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
.