James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Lord de Saumarez
St Peter Port, Guernsey
Died9 October 1836(1836-10-09) (aged 79)
Guernsey
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1770–1821
RankAdmiral of the Red
Commands heldChannel Islands Station
Baltic Fleet
Plymouth Station
Battles/wars
Awards

Admiral of the Red James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez (or Sausmarez), GCB (11 March 1757 – 9 October 1836) was an admiral of the British Royal Navy, known for his victory at the Second Battle of Algeciras.[1]

Early life

Saumarez was born at

Commander-in-Chief of New Brunswick[3][4] and of Richard Saumarez (1764–1835), a surgeon and medical author. Their sister married Henry Brock, the uncle of Major-General Sir Isaac Brock and Daniel de Lisle Brock. Many of de Sausmarez's ancestors had distinguished themselves in the naval service, and he entered it as midshipman at the age of thirteen.[5]
Upon joining the Navy, he dropped the second 's' to become de Saumarez.

Naval service

Early service in the Mediterranean and American Revolutionary War

In 1767, Saumarez was entered as a volunteer on the books of HMS Solebay (1763) although he never set foot in the ship, studying at a school near London until in 1770, Saumarez joined the Montreal in the Mediterranean. Placed on board HMS Winchelsea (1764), he was rated midshipman in November 1770.[6]: 20  A transfer to HMS Levant (1758) in February 1772 until she returned to Spithead in 1775 gave an opportunity to take his examination for lieutenant.[6]: 24 

In 1775, at the age of 18, Saumarez was ordered to Sir Peter Parker's flagship HMS Bristol in North America.[5] Saumarez distinguished himself under Parker, showing courage and being promoted to acting lieutenant at the July 1776 Battle of Sullivan's Island which required the Bristol to fire broadsides at Fort Sullivan. The engagement lasted 13 hours and 111 men were killed in the Bristol.[6]: 27–30 

Saumarez moved to

Narrangansett Bay.[6]: 32–40  Saumarez then served on land at the Battle of Rhode Island
before returning to Portsmouth.

Saumarez next served as third lieutenant in the

St Kitts on 25 January 1782.[7]

Battle of the Saintes

While commanding

de Grasse at the Battle of the Saintes on (12 April 1782).[2] During the battle and on his own initiative, Saumarez took his ship out of line to assist in the capture of de Grasse's flagship, Ville de Paris. This action prompted Admiral Rodney to remark that, "The Russell's captain is a fine fellow, whoever he is."[7]

When the war in America was finished, Saumarez went ashore and did not go to sea again until 1793 when he was given command of the frigate

fifth rate frigate.[7]

Action of 20 October 1793

HMS Crescent, under Captain James Saumarez, capturing the French frigate Réunion, by Charles Dixon

It was in Crescent that Saumarez was involved in one of the first major single-ship actions of the war when he captured the French frigate

Reunion, in the action of 20 October 1793.[2][7] British casualties were exceptionally light, with only one man wounded during the engagement.[8] In reward, Saumarez was knighted by King George III[9] and given a presentation plate by the City of London, although he later received a bill for £103 6s 8d (the equivalent of £9,700 as of 2011), from a Mr. Cooke for "the honour of a knighthood". Saumarez refused to pay, telling Cooke to charge whoever had paid for Edward Pellew's knighthood after his successful action. Saumarez later wrote to his brother that "I think it hard to pay so much for an honour which my services have been thought to deserve".[2][10]

Channel Islands Station (1794)

Frieze of HMS Crescent escaping from the French squadron

While in command of a Guernsey-based squadron consisting of three frigates, HMS Crescent (1784), HMS Druid (1783), and HMS Eurydice (1781), and some smaller vessels a planned invasion by 20,000 French soldiers of the Channel Islands scheduled for February 1794 was frustrated and cancelled due to Saumarez's vigilant eye.[11]: 9  On 8 June 1794 on the way from Plymouth to Guernsey, the squadron, which included six smaller vessels, including hired armed lugger Cockchafer and Valiant, encountered a superior French force of two razees, three frigates, and a cutter. The French squadron outgunned the British by 192 guns to 92, but Saumarez succeeded in getting his frigates to safety by sailing between rocks on the west coast of Guernsey and around the island to the St Peter Port anchorage. The British luggers and cutters had returned to Plymouth before the start of the action.[11]: 10–11  The British threat to any invasion force stayed intact.

Battle of Cape St Vincent

After being promoted in 1795, Saumarez was appointed to the 74-gun

Santissima Trinidad with the help of HMS Excellent. Saumarez was certain he had forced her surrender too when the arrival of the remainder of the Spanish fleet forced Jervis to break off the engagement.[7]

Blockade of Cadiz and the Battle of the Nile

Saumarez remained with Jervis's fleet and was present at the blockade of

Cadiz from February 1797 to April 1798. In May 1798, the Orion joined the squadron under Nelson's command that was sent into the Mediterranean to seek and destroy the French. Saumarez was Nelson's second in command at the Battle of the Nile where he distinguished himself once more, forcing the surrender of the Peuple Souverain and the 80-gun Franklin.[2][12]

Battle of Algeciras and Gut of Gibraltar

James Saumarez's squadron preparing to pursue the combined Squadron of France & Spain, on the afternoon of 12 July 1801
Annuity to Admiral Saumarez Act 1803
Act of Parliament
43 Geo. 3
. c. 37

On his return from Egypt Saumarez received the command of

Battle of the Gut of Gibraltar.[12] For his services, Saumarez received the Order of the Bath and the Freedom of the City of London.[15]
In 1803, the United Kingdom Parliament bestowed upon him an annuity of £1,200 a year (Annuity to Admiral Saumarez Act 1803).

During the

Peace of Amiens, 1802–3, Saumarez remained at home with his family in Guernsey, and when war broke out again he was given command of the naval forces defending the Channel Islands. He therefore was not present at the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar.[12] On 23 April 1804 he was promoted to Rear-Admiral of the White.[16]

Channel Islands Station (1806–08)

On 9 November 1805 he was advanced to the rank of Rear-Admiral of the Red.[17] In 1806 he took command of the Channel Islands squadron on that station for the second time, his flagship was HMS Inconstant.[18] While in command he was promoted Vice-Admiral in April 1807, his flagship was HMS Prince of Wales.[18] He remained in command of the station until February 1808.[18]

The Baltic Campaign

In March 1808 Saumarez was given command of the

Charles XIII later bestowed on him the Grand Cross of the military Order of the Sword.[2] Denmark, a French satellite, also needed to be kept under observation until it was invaded by the Swedish Army in 1814.[19] In 1812 Napoleon invaded Russia with half a million troops and Saumarez's fleet was instrumental in hampering French operations.[12][19]

Latter years and Plymouth Station

Statue of Saumarez by John Steell at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

At the Peace of 1814, Saumarez attained the rank of Admiral of the Blue,[18] On 18 July 1819 he was made Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom.[18] On 12 August 1819 he was advanced to the rank of Admiral of the White.[18] On 21 November 1821 he was appointed Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom.[18] From 1824 to 1827 he was Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth.[2] On 22 July 1830 he was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Red.[18] He was raised to the peerage as Baron de Saumarez in 1831 and died in Guernsey in 1836. In memory of Saumarez's achievements, there is a statue of him by John Steell in the National Maritime Museum in London.[21] The public bar at the Duke of Normandie Hotel in Saint Peter Port was named after Saumarez and features a portrait of him.[22]

Relationship with Nelson

Saumarez and Nelson served together in 1797 and 1798, but their relationship was not a close one. In fact on a number of occasions it became quite strained. They first clashed after the Battle of Cape St Vincent. Saumarez had forced the surrender of the Santissima Trinidad but was unable to capture her because Jervis was forced to break off the engagement. Nelson attempted to console Saumarez by telling him that the Spanish had confirmed that the Trinidad had indeed surrendered. Saumarez tersely replied "Whoever doubted it, sir? I hope there is no need for such evidence to establish the truth of a report of a British officer."[7]

In May 1798, when Saumarez was appointed to Nelson's squadron in the Mediterranean, Nelson preferred to confer with Troubridge and even though, as the senior captain, Saumarez was technically second in command, he was often left out of their conversations.[12]

After the Battle of the Nile, while in conversation with Nelson, on the quarterdeck of HMS Vanguard, Saumarez suggested that the tactic of doubling the French line had been a dangerous one as it exposed British ships to 'friendly fire'. Before he had a chance to explain, Nelson cut him short and angrily went below. Nelson decided that Saumarez should escort the prizes home, and they never served together again.[12]

Later Nelson wrote a letter saying, "I could have formed no opinion of Orion that was not favourable to her gallant and excellent commander [Saumarez] and crew". However, the awkwardness between them remained.[12]

Family

Memorial in Town Church, Guernsey

In 1788, Saumarez married Martha le Marchant (d. 1849) of a wealthy Guernsey family, who brought the estate now known as Saumarez Park into the marriage. They had three sons and four daughters:[2] The eldest, James (1789–1863), succeeded to the peerage, was a clergyman and died without children; he was succeeded in the peerage by his brother, John St. Vincent Saumarez (1806–1891).

Appearances in naval fiction

Saumarez appears as a minor character in

rear-admiral
and is mentioned again in the later Hornblower novel The Commodore as the admiral soon to be commanding in the Baltic.

Saumarez appears as admiral of the Gibraltar Squadron in Master and Commander and also as admiral of the Baltic Fleet in The Surgeon's Mate, books from Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey–Maturin series.

In Treachery (2008) (US title The Privateer's Revenge) by Julian Stockwin, Saumerez's purported orders (actually a forgery) result in the disgrace of Thomas Kydd. Saumarez returns as commander of the Baltic Fleet in The Baltic Prize (2017).

References

  1. ^ Charles Mosley, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, page 1111.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Saumarez, James" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  3. ^ Priaulx Library
  4. ^ DNBC biography of 1st Baron Seaton
  5. ^
    ISBN 1-86176-253-4
    .
  6. ^ a b c d Ross, Sir John. Memoirs of Admiral de Saumarez Vol 1.
  7. ^
    ISBN 1-86176-253-4
    .
  8. ISBN 1-84119-183-3
    .
  9. ^ "No. 13590". The London Gazette. 9 November 1793. p. 982.
  10. ISBN 1-86176-169-4
    .
  11. ^ a b Cox, Gregory Stevens (July 1989). Guernsey & the French Revolution. Guille Alles Library.
  12. ^
    ISBN 1-86176-253-4
    .
  13. ^ Chisholm 1911, p. 236.
  14. ISBN 978-1-922629-73-9
    .
  15. ^ Chisholm 1911, pp. 236–237.
  16. ^ Harrison, Cy. "Lord James Saumarez (1757-1836)". threedecks.org. Three Decks. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  17. ^ Harrison, Cy. "Lord James Saumarez (1757-1836)". threedecks.org. Three Decks. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harrison
  19. ^
    ISBN 1-84415-182-4
    .
  20. ^ Harrison, Cy. "Lord James Saumarez (1757-1836)". threedecks.org. Three Decks. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  21. ^ "Admiral James de Saumarez (1757-1836), 1st Baron de Saumarez | Royal Museums Greenwich". Royal Musuems Greenwich. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Guernsey Hotels - the Admiral de Saumarez Bar - Whats in a name?". Archived from the original on 19 June 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.

Bibliography

External links

Military offices
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
1824–1827 		Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Sir William Young
 Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom
1819–1821 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Sir William Young
 Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom
1821–1832 		Succeeded by
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baron de Saumarez
1831–1836 		Succeeded by
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New creation
Baronet

(of Guernsey)
1801–1836 		Succeeded by
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