British Naval Officer. Washington's Mount Rainier is named after him. In 1756, at age fifteen, he joined the Royal Navy, serving aboard HMS Yarmouth, HMS Norfolk and HMS Burford, rising to the rank of lieutenant in 1768. He gave distinguished service in the American Revolutionary War and was severely wounded in 1778 while capturing an American privateer ship. He was then promoted to Captain of HMS Astraea, which he commanded on the Jamaica Station for four years from 1786 until 1790, when he was given command of HMS Monarch. During his time in this post his friend, George Vancouver, named Mount Rainier, Washington, in his honour. Between 1794 and 1805, he commanded Royal Navy operations in the East Indies and oversaw a considerable increase in British territory in the area. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral in 1795 and Vice-Admiral in 1797, before serving as Commodore and commander-in-chief of the East Indies fleet until his retirement in 1805. He was made Admiral of the Blue following the Battle of Trafalgar and a year before his death was elected as Member of Parliament for Sandwich.
British Naval Officer. Washington's Mount Rainier is named after him. In 1756, at age fifteen, he joined the Royal Navy, serving aboard HMS Yarmouth, HMS Norfolk and HMS Burford, rising to the rank of lieutenant in 1768. He gave distinguished service in the American Revolutionary War and was severely wounded in 1778 while capturing an American privateer ship. He was then promoted to Captain of HMS Astraea, which he commanded on the Jamaica Station for four years from 1786 until 1790, when he was given command of HMS Monarch. During his time in this post his friend, George Vancouver, named Mount Rainier, Washington, in his honour. Between 1794 and 1805, he commanded Royal Navy operations in the East Indies and oversaw a considerable increase in British territory in the area. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral in 1795 and Vice-Admiral in 1797, before serving as Commodore and commander-in-chief of the East Indies fleet until his retirement in 1805. He was made Admiral of the Blue following the Battle of Trafalgar and a year before his death was elected as Member of Parliament for Sandwich.
Bio by: js
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