Sir Peter Parker, 1st Baronet
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Admiral Sir Peter Parker, 1st Baronet (1721 – 1811) was a British naval officer, born probably in Ireland. 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 English 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 among his opponents.
He subsequently served under Lord Howe in the invasion and capture of New York City and commanded the squadron that captured Rhode Island. He subsequently became Commander-in-Chief, North American Waters, and then C-in-C, 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.
In 1782, he returned to England as Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth and was created baronet in 1783. He was, against his will, returned as MP for Seaford, and would later serve as MP for Member for Maldon.
In 1799 he succeeded Lord Howe as Admiral of the Fleet, and was Chief Mourner at Lord Nelson's funeral in 1805.
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.
[edit] References
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Christopher D'Oyly |
Member for Seaford 1784–1786 |
Succeeded by Sir Godfrey Webster |
| Preceded by The Lord Waltham |
Member for Maldon 1787–1790 |
Succeeded by Charles Western |
| Baronetage of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by New Creation |
Baronet (of Bassingbourn, Essex) 1783–1811 |
Succeeded by Peter Parker |
Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe • Sir Peter Parker • Prince William, Duke of Clarence • Sir George Cockburn • Sir Thomas Hardy • The Hon. George Heneage Dundas • Charles Adam • Sir Charles Adam • Sir William Parker • Sir Charles Adam • James Whitley Deans Dundas • Hyde Parker • The Hon. Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley • William Fanshawe Martin • The Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas • The Hon. Sir Frederick Grey • Sir Sydney Dacres • Sir Alexander Milne • Sir Hastings Yelverton • George Wellesley • Sir Astley Cooper Key • Sir Arthur Acland Hood • Lord John Hay • Sir R. Vesey Hamilton • Sir Anthony Hoskins • Sir Frederick Richards • Lord Walter Kerr • Sir Jackie Fisher • Sir Arthur Knyvet Wilson • Sir Francis Bridgeman • Prince Louis of Battenberg • Sir Henry Jackson • Sir John Jellicoe • Sir Rosslyn Wemyss • The Earl Beatty • Sir Charles Madden, Bt • Sir Frederick Field • The Lord Chatfield • Sir Roger Backhouse • Sir Dudley Pound • The Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope • Sir John Cunningham • The Lord Fraser of North Cape • Sir Rhoderick McGrigor • The Earl Mountbatten of Burma • Sir Charles Lambe • Sir Caspar John • Sir David Luce • Sir Varyl Begg • Sir Michael Le Fanu • Sir Peter Hill-Norton • Sir Michael Pollock • Sir Edward Ashmore • Sir Terence Lewin • Sir Henry Leach • Sir John Fieldhouse • Sir William Staveley • Sir Julian Oswald • Sir Benjamin Bathurst • Sir Jock Slater • Sir Michael Boyce • Sir Nigel Essenhigh • Sir Alan West • Sir Jonathon Band •
