Richard Spry

Sir Richard Spry
Born 1715
Died 1775
Place House, Cornwall
Allegiance  Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch  Royal Navy
Rank Admiral
Commands held North American Station
Mediterranean Fleet
Plymouth Command
Battles/wars War of the Austrian Succession
Seven Years' War

Admiral Sir Richard Spry (1715[1]–1775) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, North American Station.

Naval career

Spry joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer in 1733.[2] Following the sinking of his ship by the Spanish Navy he was taken prisoner in 1745 but released two months later.[2] He took part in the siege of Pondicherry in India in 1750.[2]

In 1755 he became senior officer at Halifax[2] and in 1758 took part in the successful Siege of Louisbourg.[2] He was given command of HMS Orford in 1760.[2] In 1762 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief, North American Station.[2] In 1766 he became Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Station returning to England in 1769.[2] He went on to be Port Admiral at Plymouth[3] in 1771.[4]

He lived in Place House in St Anthony in Roseland, Cornwall[5], where he died in 1775.[2]

References

  1. ^  "Spry, Richard". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Richard Spry at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  3. ^ A genealogical and heraldic history of the commoners of Great Britain, Volume 4, p. 695
  4. ^ Vice-Admiral William Bligh at the Peerage.com
  5. ^ Cornwall: Walking along the Roseland peninsula Daily Telegraph, 12 August 2000