George Collier
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Sir George Collier (11 May 1738 – 6 April 1795) was a British admiral and, as commander of the frigate HMS Rainbow, was one of the most successful British naval commanders during the opening stages of the American Revolutionary War.
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[edit] Early life
Born in London, England to a middle class family, Collier entered the Royal Navy seeing action in the West Indies and on the home station during the 1850s.
[edit] Collier & the American Revolution
By 1775, Collier was in command of the frigate HMS Rainbow at the time of the American Revolution and, after serving with distinction and success along the North American coast, received a knighthood from the Royal Family in early-1776.
Upon his return to the American colonies, Collier provided support for General William Howe's landing at Long Island, New York on 22 August 1776. Sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia as a senior officer by Admiral Richard Lord Howe, Collier would capture the American frigate USS Hancock after a long chase on 8 July 1777. Collier followed up on his success the following month by destroying supplies at Machias, Maine, thereby ruining American plans for an invasion of Nova Scotia.
Succeeding Admiral James Gambier as commodore and acting commander-in-chief of the North American station on 4 April 1779, Collier led a highly successful raid with General Edward Mathew on the Virginia coast on 29 May.
The following day, on 30 May, Collier joined the British assault on Stony Point, New York providing support for Sir Henry Clinton. One of the few naval commanders able to get along with Clinton, Collier also provided naval support for Clinton's raid into Connecticut in June before returning to New York in late-August.
Replaced as commander-in-chief by Admiral Marriot Arbuthnot while at sea, Collier was recalled to Great Britain on 29 November, assuming command of the 74-gun HMS Canada in 1780.
Participating in the relief of Gibraltar on 12 April 1781, Collier captured the Spanish frigate Leocadia on his return to England.
[edit] Later years
Following the war's end, Collier resigned from the Royal Navy and was elected to Parliament serving from 1781 until 1790. Returning to active service, Collier was promoted to admiral in February 1793, and later vice-admiral of the blue on 12 July 1794. In January 1795, Collier would serve as commander of the Nore shipyard, however he soon resigned due to ill health and died in London on 6 April 1795.
[edit] References
- Boatner. Encyclopedia
