Sir Robert Kingsmill, 1st Baronet

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Sir Robert Kingsmill, Bt
American War of Independence
French Revolutionary Wars
Napoleonic Wars

Rodney in the West Indies, where he was wounded in battle, and with Keppel at the Battle of Ushant. He took the time to embark on a career in politics as a Member of Parliament, giving this up several times to resume his service in the Navy when war broke out. Kingsmill rose to flag rank by the time of the outbreak of war with revolutionary France in 1793. As the naval commander-in-chief on the coast of Ireland, he repelled several attempts by the French to invade Ireland and foment insurrection. Kingsmill died on 23 November 1805 at Sydmonton Court as a baronet and with the rank of Admiral of the Blue
.

Family and early life

He was born in Belfast as Robert Brice, the son of Captain Charles Brice, of Castle Chichester, and his wife Jane.[1][2] He followed his father into the navy, joining the 14-gun sloop HMS Speedwell as an able seaman on 29 October 1746.[1] He remained on Speedwell for several years, being promoted to midshipman on 3 October 1748.

In August 1750, while aboard

Martinique and St Lucia, during which he was wounded.[1][6]

Brice's rewards for his good services were a promotion to

sixth rate HMS Crescent.[1] He was sent back to the West Indies and remained there until the end of the Seven Years' War in 1764, upon which he returned to England.[1][4] He married Elizabeth Corry, heiress to the Kingsmill estates at Sydmonton Court in Hampshire, at some point in 1766. Her uncle had died on 8 January 1766, and after changing his surname and arms to Kingsmill, by Act of Parliament, he succeeded to the estates.[1][4][7] He retired from active naval service and spent the years of peace enjoying his newly acquired wealth and status.[4][8]

Active service and political career

British Admirals - Brittania Viewing the Conquerors of the Seas - Roberts, 1800 - Admiral Kingsmill shown top left

The outbreak of war with France in 1778 during the

American War of Independence led to his return to active service. He accepted command of the 64-gun HMS Vigilant and formed part of Admiral Augustus Keppel's fleet at the Battle of Ushant on 27 July 1778.[8][9][10] The indecisive result and subsequent controversies and intrigues surrounding the conduct of the officers involved redounded against Kingsmill.[8][9] He was offered service in the West Indies, but turned it down by resigning his command.[8]

Kingsmill took advantage of this break from active service to enter politics. He was elected as

expedition to relieve Gibraltar, and was instead offered command of a reinforcement squadron that was being prepared to sail to the East Indies.[8] He accepted the appointment, which would see him command a squadron consisting of Elizabeth, the 74-gun HMS Grafton, the 64-gun HMS Europa and the 32-gun HMS Iphigenia.[9] His force was finally ready to put to sea by 17 January 1783, but while sailing through the Bay of Biscay they encountered heavy gales, and were eventually forced back to Spithead, having suffered considerable damage.[8][9] Before Kingsmill could attend to repairs he learnt that the Treaty of Paris had been signed and that the war was over. There would be no reinforcement squadron for the East Indies.[8][9] Elizabeth was to be retained in commission as a guard ship however, and Kingsmill accepted the three-year posting as her commander.[8][11]

He took this opportunity to resume his parliamentary career, being elected to the constituency of Tregony on 5 April 1784, holding the seat until 1790.[8][10] He does not appear to have ever spoken in parliament, but records show that he voted in favour of William Pitt over his 1785 Reform Bill, against him during the Regency crises of 1788 and 1789, and against the Duke of Richmond's fortification plans in 1786.[8] The Nootka Crisis in 1790 brought an end to his career in politics, as Kingsmill returned to active duty in command of the 90-gun HMS Duke.[8][11] The crisis passed without breaking into open war, and Kingsmill paid off Duke and once again entered semi-retirement.[8] In October 1790, he was selected to serve as a member of the panel of officers at the court-martial concerning the mutiny and loss of HMS Bounty.[12] As contemporaries in the service, Sir Robert and Horatio Nelson developed a close friendship that lasted until Nelson's death at Trafalgar on 21 October 1805.[13]

French Revolutionary Wars

Admiral Sir Robert Kingsmill

The outbreak of war with revolutionary France led to a general promotion of Royal Navy officers on 1 February 1793.

Sir John Borlase Warren at the Battle of Tory Island put a decisive end to the threat.[15]

Kingsmill continued to run the station, being promoted to

King George III for his long years of service.[14] He spent his last years in retirement, dying at Sydmonton Court, Kingsclere, Hampshire on 23 November 1805 at the age of 75.[15] By then he had served the Navy for nearly 60 years, in a career that spanned four major wars.[15] He died without issue, the baronetcy passing to his nephew, Robert Kingsmill.[10]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Tracy. Who's who in Nelson's Navy. p. 219.
  2. ^ Campbell. Naval history of Great Britain. p. 436.
  3. ^ "Obituary: Sir Isaac Heard, Garter". The Gentleman's Magazine. 92. E. Cave: 466–469. 1822.
  4. ^ a b c d Campbell. Naval history of Great Britain. p. 446.
  5. ^ Campbell. Naval history of Great Britain. p. 437.
  6. ^ Campbell. Naval history of Great Britain. p. 445.
  7. ^ Deed Poll Office: Private Act of Parliament 1766 (6 Geo. 3). c. 36
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Tracy. Who's who in Nelson's Navy. p. 220.
  9. ^ a b c d e Campbell. Naval history of Great Britain. p. 447.
  10. ^ a b c d "Kingsmill, Sir Robert (1730-1805)". Dictionary of National Biography. 1892. p. 184.
  11. ^ a b c Campbell. Naval history of Great Britain. p. 448.
  12. ^ "Court Martial of William Bligh et al for the Loss of the Bounty". 22 October 1790. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  13. ISBN 1-4212-4840-9
  14. ^ a b c d Ralfe, The Naval Biography of Great Britain, p. 356
  15. ^ a b c d e Tracy. Who's who in Nelson's Navy. p. 221.
  16. ^ Ryan, Richard. Biographia Hibernica. p. 357.

References

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
Jervoise Clarke Jervoise
Member of Parliament for Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
1779–1780
With: James Worsley
 Succeeded by
Preceded by
Member of Parliament for Tregony
1784–1790
With: Sir Lloyd Kenyon, Bt 1784–88
Hugh Seymour Conway
1788–90 		Succeeded by
Military offices
New post Commander-in-Chief, Cork Station
1797–1800 		Succeeded by
Baronetage of Great Britain
New creation
Baronet

(of Sidmanton)
1800–1805 		Succeeded by
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