Sir Peter Parker, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Admiral of the Fleet
Sir Peter Parker, 1st Baronet (1721–1811) was a British
naval officer.
. He became a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1743 and captain in 1747. In 1761, he took command of HMS Buckingham
and helped cover operations
on Belle Île
. For 10 years he was out of the service on account of the reduction of the navy.
He was knighted in 1772 and rejoined the service in 1773.
During the American Revolution
, he was sent to provide naval support for an expedition reinforcing Loyalists in the Southern Colonies
. Parker hoisted his flag aboard HMS Bristol
, 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
. 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. 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.
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. 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. He was, against his will, returned as MP for Seaford
, and would later serve as member for Maldon
. In 1793 he became Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
.
In 1799 he succeeded Lord Howe
as Admiral of the Fleet
, and was Chief Mourner at Lord Nelson's funeral in 1806.
He was succeeded in the baronetcy by Christopher's son Peter
.
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
Sir Peter Parker, 1st Baronet (1721–1811) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
naval officer.
Naval career
Peter Parker was born probably in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He became a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1743 and captain in 1747. In 1761, he took command of HMS Buckingham
HMS Buckingham (1751)
HMS Buckingham was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Deptford Dockyard to the draught specified by the 1745 Establishment, and launched on 13 April 1751....
and helped cover operations
Capture of Belle Île
The Capture of Belle Île was a British amphibious expedition to capture the French island of Belle Île off the Brittany Coast in 1761, during the Seven Years War. After an initial British attack was repulsed, a second attempt under General Studholme Hodgson forced a beachhead...
on Belle Île
Belle Île
Belle-Île or Belle-Île-en-Mer is a French island off the coast of Brittany in the département of Morbihan, and the largest of Brittany's islands. It is 14 km from the Quiberon peninsula.Administratively, the island forms a canton: the canton of Belle-Île...
. For 10 years he was out of the service on account of the reduction of the navy.
He was knighted in 1772 and rejoined the service in 1773.
During the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, he was sent to provide naval support for an expedition reinforcing Loyalists in the Southern Colonies
Southern Colonies
The Southern Colonies in North America were established by Europeans during the 16th and 17th centuries and consisted of olden South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia and Georgia. Their historical names were the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, the Province of Carolina, and the Province...
. Parker hoisted his flag aboard HMS Bristol
HMS Bristol (1775)
HMS Bristol was a fourth-rate ship with 50 guns, launched in 1775. During the American War of Independence, she was Sir Peter Parker's flagship during the attack on Sullivan's Island on June 28, 1776 and was heavily damaged during the battle. Later in the war, she was stationed off Jamaica, and...
, and on June 28, 1776, led a naval attack
Battle of Sullivan's Island
The Battle of Sullivan's Island or the Battle of Fort Sullivan was fought on June 28, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, also known as the American War of Independence. It took place near Charleston, South Carolina, during the first British attempt to capture the city from American rebels...
against the fortifications on Sullivan's Island (later called Fort Moultrie after their commander), protecting Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. 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
HMS Actaeon (1775)
HMS Actaeon was a 28-gun Enterprise-class sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. The Actaeon was first commissioned in June 1775 under the command of Captain Christopher Atkins.- References :...
, grounded and abandoned. Lord William Campbell, the last British Governor of the Province of South Carolina
Province of South Carolina
The South Carolina Colony, or Province of South Carolina, was originally part of the Province of Carolina, which was chartered in 1663. The colony later became the U.S. state 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.
He subsequently served under Lord Howe
Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe
Admiral of the Fleet Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe KG was a British naval officer, notable in particular for his service during the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars. He was the brother of William Howe and George Howe.Howe joined the navy at the age of thirteen and served...
in the invasion and capture
New York and New Jersey campaign
The New York and New Jersey campaign was a series of battles for control of New York City and the state of New Jersey in the American Revolutionary War between British forces under General Sir William Howe and the Continental Army under General George Washington in 1776 and the winter months of 1777...
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and commanded the squadron that captured Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
. He subsequently became Commander-in-Chief, North American Waters, and then Commander-in-Chief, Jamaica. 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
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1783. He was, against his will, returned as MP for Seaford
Seaford (UK Parliament constituency)
The UK parliamentary constituency of Seaford was a Cinque Port constituency, similar to a parliamentary borough, in Seaford, East Sussex. A rotten borough, prone by size to undue influence by a patron, it was disenfranchised in the Reform Act of 1832...
, and would later serve as member for Maldon
Maldon (UK Parliament constituency)
Maldon is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
. In 1793 he became Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. Portsmouth Command was a name given to the units, establishments, and staff operating under the post.-History:...
.
In 1799 he succeeded Lord Howe
Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe
Admiral of the Fleet Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe KG was a British naval officer, notable in particular for his service during the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars. He was the brother of William Howe and George Howe.Howe joined the navy at the age of thirteen and served...
as Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
, and was Chief Mourner at Lord Nelson's funeral in 1806.
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
Sir Peter Parker, 2nd Baronet
Captain Sir Peter Parker, 2nd Baronet was an English naval officer, the son of Vice-Admiral Christopher Parker and Augusta Byron....
.