Sir Richard Spry
Born1715
Died25 November 1775
Place House, Cornwall
Allegiance Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch Royal Navy
RankRear-Admiral of the Red
Commands heldNorth American Station
Mediterranean Fleet
Plymouth Command
Battles/warsWar of the Austrian Succession
Seven Years' War

Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Spry (1715[1]– 25 November 1775[2]) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, North American Station.

Naval career

After an education at Truro Grammar School[3] Spry joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer in 1733.[4] Following the sinking of his ship by the Spanish Navy he was taken prisoner in 1745 but released two months later.[4]

He took part in the siege of Pondicherry in India in 1750.[4]

From 17 October 1753 to 5 June 1754 he was captain of the frigate HMS Garland.[5]

In 1755 he became senior officer at Halifax, Nova Scotia,[4] and in 1758 took part in the successful Siege of Louisbourg.[4] He was given command of HMS Orford in 1760.[4] In 1762 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief, North American Station.[4] In 1766 he was promoted to the rank of Commodore and appointed Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Station.[4][6]

Memorial in St Anthony's church, St Anthony in Roseland

Spry returned to England in 1769.[4] In 1770 he was promoted to rear admiral and went on to be Port Admiral at Plymouth[6][7] in 1771.[8]

Spry was knighted at Portsmouth on 24 June 1773 and retired to Place House in St Anthony in Roseland, Cornwall.[9] He died there in 1775.[4][6] His memorial in St Anthony's Church there is by Humphrey Hopper.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Spry, Richard" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  2. ^ File:Memorials to the Spry family in St Anthony's church, St Anthony in Roseland-8952.jpg
  3. ^ Richard Polwhele, The History of Cornwall, Civil, Military, Religious, Architectural, Agricultural, Commercial, Biographical, and Miscellaneous, vols. 4-7 (Michel & Co., 1816), p. 66
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Richard Spry at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  5. ^ "Richard Spry". Three Decks. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Hardy 1783, p. 56
  7. ^ Burke, J.; Colburn, H.; Bentley, R.; Cumming, J.; Whittingham, C.; Bell & Bradfute (1838). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, Enjoying Territorial Possessions Or High Official Rank: But Uninvested with Heritable Honours. Henry Colburn. p. 695.
  8. ^ "Vice-Admiral William Bligh". The Peerage. 20 April 2009.
  9. ^ Cornwall: Walking along the Roseland peninsula Daily Telegraph, 12 August 2000
  10. ^ Gunnis, Rupert (1953). Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851. Odhams.

Bibliography

Military offices Preceded bySir George Edgcumbe Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth 1771–1775 Succeeded byJohn Amherst
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