George Farmer (Royal Navy officer)
George Farmer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1732 Youghal, County Cork |
| Died | October 6, 1779 (aged 46–47) Aboard HMS Quebec |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/ | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1755–1779 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands held | HMS Weazle HMS Swift Governor of the Falkland Islands HMS Tamar HMS Launceston HMS Seahorse HMS Quebec |
| Battles/wars |
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Captain George Farmer (1732 – 6 October 1779) was an English Royal Navy officer who most notably commanded several warships during the American Revolutionary War. He was killed while in command of HMS Quebec in the Action of 6 October 1779.
Early life
Farmer was son of John Farmer, of a
He was then placed on
In command
He had, however, no active employment till September 1769, when he was appointed to command the 14-gun
A few days later Swift sailed for a cruise round the islands; but in a gale was blown over to the coast of
On 16 April they arrived safely at Port Egmont. On 4 June a Spanish frigate anchored in the harbour; she was presently followed by four others, and the commandant wrote to Farmer that, having with him fourteen hundred troops and a train of artillery, he was in a position to compel the English to quit, if they hesitated any longer. Farmer replied that he should defend himself to the best of his power; but when the Spaniards landed, Farmer, after firing his guns, capitulated on terms, an inventory of the stores being taken, and the English permitted to return to their own country in Favourite.
After arriving in September, Farmer, on being acquitted of all blame for the loss of Swift, was appointed to the 16-gun sloop
Death in action
On returning to England after an uneventful commission, Farmer was appointed in March 1778 to the 32-gun
On 6 July he wrote that he had driven on shore and destroyed a convoy of forty-nine small vessels, with a 20-gun frigate and several armed vessels; but that Quebec herself had struck heavily on the rocks, and he had been obliged to throw his guns overboard. This necessitated his going to Portsmouth for repairs, and when these were finished, as there were no 12-pounders to replace the lost guns, he had to be supplied with 9-pounders, which were taken from another frigate not ready for sea.
With this reduced armament, off
Family
Farmer had been previously wounded, and his conduct both in the action and during the fire was admired. At the special request of the Board of Admiralty, a baronetcy was conferred on his eldest son, then 17 years of age; also a pension of £200 a year to his widow, Rebecca, the daughter of Captain William Fleming of the Royal Navy, and of £25 per annum to each of eight children, and a ninth not yet born.
References
- ISBN 978-1-315-41608-3.
- . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Farmer, George". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.