Philip Durell
Encyclopedia
Vice-Admiral
Philip Durell (1707 – 26 August 1766) was a Royal Navy
officer who went on to be Port Admiral at Plymouth
.
as an ordinary seaman in 1721. In 1742 he was appointed Post Captain on HMS Eltham and sailed to the West Indies. In 1745 he took part in the successful Siege of Louisbourg
during the War of the Austrian Succession
. He was appointed Captain of HMS Gloucester
and took part in the defeat of the French Navy at Cape Ortegal
off Spain in 1747. As Captain of HMS Terrible
from March 1755, he joined Rear-Admiral Francis Holburne
’s squadron supporting Vice-Admiral Edward Boscawen
in North America off Louisbourg later that year.
Becoming Captain of HMS Trident he was part of Vice-Admiral John Byng
's fleet which failed to engage with the enemy at the start of the Seven Years' War
leading to the loss of Minorca
in 1756. Promoted to Commodore in January 1758, he took part in the Siege of Louisbourg
in June and July 1758 and subsequent capture of the Fortress of Louisbourg
in July 1758. Then in September 1759 he took part in the capture of Quebec
.
He became Port Admiral at Plymouth
in June 1761. In 1766 he was named Commander-in-Chief of the North American Station but died within days of his arrival in North America.
He is buried in St Paul's Church in Halifax
.
Vice Admiral (Royal Navy)
Vice admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It equates to the NATO rank code OF-8 and is immediately superior to rear admiral and is subordinate to the full admiral rank.The Royal Navy has had vice admirals since at least the 16th century...
Philip Durell (1707 – 26 August 1766) 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 who went on to be Port Admiral at Plymouth
Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
The Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. Plymouth Command was a name given to the units, establishments, and staff operating under the admiral's command. In the nineteenth century the holder of the office was known as Commander-in-Chief,...
.
Naval career
Durell 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...
as an ordinary seaman in 1721. In 1742 he was appointed Post Captain on HMS Eltham and sailed to the West Indies. In 1745 he took part in the successful Siege of Louisbourg
Siege of Louisbourg (1745)
The Siege of Louisbourg took place in 1745 when a New England colonial force aided by a British fleet captured Louisbourg, the capital of the French province of Île-Royale during the War of the Austrian Succession, known as King George's War in the British colonies.Although the Fortress of...
during the War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
. He was appointed Captain of 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 took part in the defeat of the French Navy at Cape Ortegal
Ortegal
Ortegal is a comarca in the Galician Province of A Coruña. The overall population of this local region is 15,810 .-Municipalities:Cariño, Cerdido, Mañón and Ortigueira....
off Spain in 1747. As Captain of HMS Terrible
HMS Terrible (1747)
HMS Terrible was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She had previously served in the French Navy under the same name.-French career and capture:...
from March 1755, he joined Rear-Admiral Francis Holburne
Francis Holburne
Admiral Sir Francis Holburne was a Royal Navy officer who also served as a Member of Parliament.-Naval career:Francis entered the Navy in 1720 as a volunteer aboard , passing his examinations in 1725...
’s squadron supporting Vice-Admiral Edward Boscawen
Edward Boscawen
Admiral Edward Boscawen, PC was an Admiral in the Royal Navy and Member of Parliament for the borough of Truro, Cornwall. He is known principally for his various naval commands throughout the 18th Century and the engagements that he won, including the Siege of Louisburg in 1758 and Battle of Lagos...
in North America off Louisbourg later that year.
Becoming Captain of HMS Trident he was part of Vice-Admiral John Byng
John Byng
Admiral John Byng was a Royal Navy officer. After joining the navy at the age of thirteen he participated at the Battle of Cape Passaro in 1718. Over the next thirty years he built up a reputation as a solid naval officer and received promotion to Vice-Admiral in 1747...
's fleet which failed to engage with the enemy at the start of 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...
leading to the loss of Minorca
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
in 1756. Promoted to Commodore in January 1758, he took part in the Siege of Louisbourg
Siege of Louisbourg (1758)
The Siege of Louisbourg was a pivotal battle of the Seven Years' War in 1758 which ended the French colonial era in Atlantic Canada and led directly to the loss of Quebec in 1759 and the remainder of French North America the following year.-Background:The British government realized that with the...
in June and July 1758 and subsequent capture of the Fortress of Louisbourg
Fortress of Louisbourg
The Fortress of Louisbourg is a national historic site and the location of a one-quarter partial reconstruction of an 18th century French fortress at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia...
in July 1758. Then in September 1759 he took part in the capture of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
.
He became Port Admiral at Plymouth
Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
The Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. Plymouth Command was a name given to the units, establishments, and staff operating under the admiral's command. In the nineteenth century the holder of the office was known as Commander-in-Chief,...
in June 1761. In 1766 he was named Commander-in-Chief of the North American Station but died within days of his arrival in North America.
He is buried in St Paul's Church in Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
.