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Charles Saunders (admiral)
Encyclopedia
Admiral Sir Charles Saunders, KB
(c. 1715 – 7 December 1775) was a Royal Navy
officer in the Royal Navy
during the Seven Years' War
and later served as First Lord of the Admiralty. He was appointed to the Privy Council in 1766.
in 1727. He later commanded HMS Gloucester
and then HMS Yarmouth
. He was Member of Parliament
for the Devon
port (and major Royal Navy base) of Plymouth
from 1750 to 1754 and then represented the Yorkshire
borough of Hedon
from 1754 until his death. In December 1755 he was made comptroller of the navy
and in January 1756 and was sent to Gibraltar
as Second in Command of the Mediterranean Fleet
. In January 1757 he became Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet
. He held the post until May 1757.
which brought James Wolfe
to Quebec in 1759 and consolidated the dead general's victory after the Battle of the Plains of Abraham
.
In April 1760 he resumed his role as Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet and blockaded Cadiz
preventing the French and Spanish fleets from sailing.
Cape Saunders
, on the Otago
coast of New Zealand
, was named in his honour by Captain James Cook
, who had served under Saunders in Canada.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(c. 1715 – 7 December 1775) was a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
officer in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
during the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
and later served as First Lord of the Admiralty. He was appointed to the Privy Council in 1766.
Early career
Saunders joined the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1727. He later commanded HMS Gloucester
HMS Gloucester (1745)
HMS Gloucester was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Rotherhithe to the dimensions specified in the 1741 proposals of the 1719 Establishment, and launched on 23 May 1745....
and then HMS Yarmouth
HMS Yarmouth (1745)
HMS Yarmouth was a 64-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Deptford Dockyard. She was previously ordered to the dimensions specified in the 1741 proposals for modifications to the 1719 Establishment, but the Admiralty had very quickly concluded that these were too small, and...
. He was Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
port (and major Royal Navy base) of Plymouth
Plymouth (UK Parliament constituency)
Plymouth was a parliamentary borough in Devon, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons in 1298 and again from 1442 until 1918, when the borough was merged with the neighbouring Devonport and the combined area divided into three single-member constituencies.-In the...
from 1750 to 1754 and then represented the Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
borough of Hedon
Hedon (UK Parliament constituency)
Hedon, sometimes spelt Heydon, was a parliamentary borough in the East Riding of Yorkshire, represented by two Members of Parliament in the House of Commons briefly in the 13th century and again from 1547 to 1832.-History:...
from 1754 until his death. In December 1755 he was made comptroller of the navy
Third Sea Lord
The Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy was formerly the Naval Lord and member of the Board of Admiralty responsible for procurement and matériel in the British Royal Navy...
and in January 1756 and was sent to Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
as Second in Command of the Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
. In January 1757 he became Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
. He held the post until May 1757.
Seven Years war
He commanded the fleetNaval fleet
A fleet, or naval fleet, is a large formation of warships, and the largest formation in any navy. A fleet at sea is the direct equivalent of an army on land....
which brought James Wolfe
James Wolfe
Major General James P. Wolfe was a British Army officer, known for his training reforms but remembered chiefly for his victory over the French in Canada...
to Quebec in 1759 and consolidated the dead general's victory after the Battle of the Plains of Abraham
Battle of the Plains of Abraham
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Battle of Quebec, was a pivotal battle in the Seven Years' War...
.
In April 1760 he resumed his role as Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet and blockaded Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
preventing the French and Spanish fleets from sailing.
Cape Saunders
Cape Saunders
Cape Saunders is a prominent headland on the Pacific Ocean coast of the Otago Peninsula in New Zealand's South Island. It is home to the Cape Saunders Lighthouse....
, on the Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
coast of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, was named in his honour by Captain James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
, who had served under Saunders in Canada.