PARKER (George, son of Sir Thomas PARKER, 1695-1784, Barrister and Judge, and father of Sir William PARKER, 1781-1866, Admiral of the Fleet)

Fine Autograph Letter Signed to 'Dear Sir John' DUCKWORTH (1748-1817, Admiral) saying he has "reason to believe that a letter of thanks which I had the honor of addressing to you when Lord St Vincent quitted the Admiralty, was neglected to be forwarded, or has miscarried, and having been since favored by yours of the 30th May, inclosing one for William (which I conclude he has acknowledged from the Mediterranean) I cannot resist, though at so late a period, expressing our obligations for your kind attentions on all occasions, & particularly for your continued friendship to William, who has a grateful heart, and feels all your goodness to him as he should do. The principles and professional knowledge he acquired under your auspices have alone rendered him what he is, & we are all flattered by the most favorable reports of him as an Officer, and a Gentleman. He has written fully to Mr Pickford on the subject of some serious accounts with the Partners and Executors of the late Mr Waterhouse, on the balance of which he must be entitled to a considerable sum, and I fear he has too much reason to complain of the backwardness and delay that has occurred in bringing forward even a statement of his account. The manner in which former applications have been treated in England is distressing, and by my advice William intends to solicit your countenance for Mr Pickford to obtain an investigation of the accounts and if possible part of the balance. My Father, who thank God, keeps his spirits ... directed me to present his kindest regards & compliments whenever I should write to you ..." with a long postscript saying that should he "at any time wish to place the Son of a Seaman in Greenwich (Hospital) School, I shall always have a nomination at your Service. The prescribed age for admission is between 11 & 13. Lord St Vincent is unusually well & begs his compliments ...", 3 sides 4to., 41 Trinity Square, 15th November

From 1803 until 1804, Duckworth assumed command as the commander-in-chief of the Jamaica Station, during which time he directed the operations which led to the surrender of General Rochambeau and the French army, following the successful Blockade of Saint-Domingue. Duckworth was promoted to vice-admiral of the blue on 23rd April 1804, and he was appointed a Colonel of Marines. He succeeded in capturing numerous enemy vessels and 5,512 French prisoners of war.
Admiral of the Fleet Sir William PARKER entered the Royal Navy in February 1793 as a captain's servant on the third-rate HMS Orion, serving under Captain John Duckworth. In the Orion, which was part of the Channel Fleet commanded by Lord Howe, Parker took part in the Battle of The Glorious First of June in June 1794 during the French Revolutionary Wars. When Captain Duckworth was assigned to another ship, the third-rate HMS Leviathan, Parker followed him, and sailed with him to the West Indies Station where Duckworth appointed him acting lieutenant in the fifth-rate HMS Magicienne.
John Jervis, 1st Earl of ST VINCENT (1735-1823) was an admiral in the Royal Navy and Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom. Jervis served throughout the latter half of the 18th century and into the 19th, and was an active commander during the Seven Years' War, American War of Independence, French Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. Jervis married his cousin Martha, daughter of Lord Chief Baron Sir Thomas Parker and so George's sister.

Item Date:  1804

Stock No:  41724      £375

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