Edmund Affleck

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Sir Edmund Affleck (ca. 1725—19 November 1787/88) was a naval officer of considerable repute. He entered the navy at an early age, and during the stirring times of George II, served in the several capacities of lieutenant, master and commander, and post captain. In the succeeding reign, after a lapse of long and continued toil, he had conferred on him the higher rank of an established commodore — a rank prized in the service as one not only ensuring its possessor the certainty of active employment afloat, but also as indicating, in the authorities administering the naval affairs of the nation, a public recognition of professional merit. It was not, however, until the year 1782 had become — as it might be historically stated — a memorable epoch in the maritime annals of England, and that valour, ability, and boldness in battle, had retrieved for the nation its naval name, that opportunity had been afforded to Affleck to acquire celebrity and establish his professional fame.

About this period, his broad pennant (the commodore's symbol of office) was flying on board the Bedford, attached to the fleet then employed in the West Indies, under the orders of Sir Samuel Hood. In the cautious and somewhat speculative encounter which took place in Basse-terre Roads, between Hood and the celebrated Count de Grasse, it fell to the lot, or — as he would have said himself — good fortune of Affleck, who each day commanded the rear division of the British line, to sustain the brunt of the enemy's attack. His conduct on this occasion drew from the commander-in-chief, a public expression of praise.

"The enemy," says Sir Samuel, in his official dispatches, "gave the preference to Commodore Affleck, but he kept up so noble a fire, and was so well supported by his seconds, Captain Cornwallis and Lord Robert Manners, that the loss and damage sustained in those ships were very trifling, and they very much preserved the other ships in the rear."

In furthering the fond aspirations of Affleck, time was any thing but tardy. On the 9th and 12th of April ensuing, opportunity was again afforded him to increase his laurels. In the well-known conflicts that took place on those different days between Rodney and the Count de Grasse, and particularly in the memorable battle of the 12th, the commodore, in bringing up the rear of the centre division of the British fleet, manifested the noblest bearing. For the services rendered to his country in this glorious achievement, his sovereign conferred on him the dignity of baronet of Britain; and out of compliment to his gallantry and general conduct, the electors of Colchester returned him to represent that borough in parliament. In turn, he attained his flag rank, but in the capacity of admiral, he was never employed afloat. He died in London on November 10, 1787.

[edit] Sources

  1. Rose, Hugh James [1853] (1857). A New General Biographical Dictionary, London: B. Fellowes et al.

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