Edward Falkingham
Encyclopedia
Edward Falkingham was an officer in the Royal Navy
. He served for a time as Governor of Newfoundland.
Falkingham received his first commission in 1703 when he was promoted to Lieutenant. On 26 February 1713 he was promoted to the rank of captain in command of HMS Weymouth
. Falkingham in charge of HMS Gibraltar along with Commodore Thomas Kempthorne aboard of HMS Worcester
was charged with overseeing the enforcement of Treaty of Utrecht when it came to the fishing grounds of Newfoundland in 1715. A major concern to the merchants of England was the over-wintering of fisherman in Newfoundland and William Arnold
, a New England
trader, was suspecting of enticing those fisherman to over-winter in New England. Falkingham was assigned the duty of observing Arnold in the summer of 1715.
Falkingham went on to command various vessels in both the Baltic
and the Mediterranean
. In 1718 he commanded HMS Orford
with distinction at the Battle of Cape Passaro
, off the coast of Sicily
.
On 5 May 1732, Falkingham was commissioned as Commodore-Governor
of Newfoundland. Finding that there was only one prison, in St John's, Falkingham ordered the construction of other prisons in Ferryland
, Bonavista
and Carbonear
. Falkingham retired from sea service in 1742, and when his health began to fail him in 1755, from the Navy altogether.
Royal 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...
. He served for a time as Governor of Newfoundland.
Falkingham received his first commission in 1703 when he was promoted to Lieutenant. On 26 February 1713 he was promoted to the rank of captain in command of HMS Weymouth
HMS Weymouth (1693)
HMS Weymouth was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Portsmouth Dockyard in 1693.She was rebuilt at Woolwich Dockyard according to the 1706 Establishment, relaunching on 26 February 1719. Weymouth continued to serve until 1732, when she was broken up....
. Falkingham in charge of HMS Gibraltar along with Commodore Thomas Kempthorne aboard of HMS Worcester
HMS Worcester (1698)
HMS Worcester was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Southampton on 31 May 1698.She underwent a rebuild according to the 1706 Establishment at Deptford Dockyard, relaunching on 31 August 1714. Worcester was broken up in 1733....
was charged with overseeing the enforcement of Treaty of Utrecht when it came to the fishing grounds of Newfoundland in 1715. A major concern to the merchants of England was the over-wintering of fisherman in Newfoundland and William Arnold
William Arnold
William Arnold was one of the founding settlers of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and with his sons was among the wealthiest people in the colony. He was raised and educated in England where he was the warden of St. Mary's, the parish church of Ilchester in southeastern...
, a New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
trader, was suspecting of enticing those fisherman to over-winter in New England. Falkingham was assigned the duty of observing Arnold in the summer of 1715.
Falkingham went on to command various vessels in both the Baltic
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
and the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. In 1718 he commanded HMS Orford
HMS Orford (1698)
HMS Orford was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford in 1698.. She carried twenty-two 24-pounder guns and four culverins on the lower deck; twenty-six 12-pounder guns on the upper deck; fourteen sakers on the quarter-deck and forecastle; and four 3-pounder...
with distinction at the Battle of Cape Passaro
Battle of Cape Passaro
The Battle of Cape Passaro was the defeat of a Spanish fleet under Admirals Antonio de Gaztañeta and Fernando Chacón by a British fleet under Admiral George Byng, near Cape Passero, Sicily, on 11 August 1718, four months before the War of the Quadruple Alliance was formally...
, off the coast of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
.
On 5 May 1732, Falkingham was commissioned as Commodore-Governor
Commodore-Governor
In Newfoundland the Commodore-Governor was a British Royal Navy official who was commander of the annual fishing convoy which left England each spring to fish off Newfoundland and was charged with protecting the convoys from harm...
of Newfoundland. Finding that there was only one prison, in St John's, Falkingham ordered the construction of other prisons in Ferryland
Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador
Ferryland is a town in Newfoundland and Labrador on the Avalon Peninsula. According to the 2006 Statistics Canada census, its population is 529. Addresses in Ferryland use the alphanumerically lowest postal codes in Canada, starting with A0A....
, Bonavista
Bonavista, Newfoundland and Labrador
Bonavista is a town on the Bonavista Peninsula, Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Unlike many Newfoundland coastal settlements, Bonavista was built on an open plain, not in a steep cove, and thus had room to expand to its current area of 31.5 square...
and Carbonear
Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador
Carbonear is a town on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2006, there are 4,723 people living in Carbonear, down from 4,759 in 2001.-History:...
. Falkingham retired from sea service in 1742, and when his health began to fail him in 1755, from the Navy altogether.