George Brydges Rodney Biography

Birth of George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney

Attains the rank of post-captain, having been appointed to the Plymouth

Commands of the battleship Eagle 60, and in this ship takes part in Hawkes victory off Ushant over the French fleet

Appointed Governor and Commander-in-chief of Newfoundland, with the rank of Commodore, it being usual at that time to appoint a naval officer, chiefly on account of the fishery interests

Appointed Governor and Commander-in-chief of Newfoundland, with the rank of Commodore, it being usual at that time to appoint a naval officer, chiefly on account of the fishery interests

Elected Member of Parliament for Saltash

Marries his first wife, Jane Compton (1730-1757), sister of Charles Compton, 7th Earl of Northampton

Shares in the expedition against Rochefort, Commands the battleship Dublin

Serves under Boscawen in the taking of Louisburg (Cape Breton Island)

Serves under Boscawen in the taking of Louisburg (Cape Breton Island)

Serves under Boscawen in the taking of Louisburg (Cape Breton Island)

Bombarded Le Harvre for two days and nights, and inflicts great loss of war-material on the enemy

Bombarded Le Harvre for two days and nights, and inflicts great loss of war-material on the enemy

Bombarded Le Harvre for two days and nights, and inflicts great loss of war-material on the enemy

Appointed Rear-Admiral, and was shortly after given command of a small squadron intended to destroy a large number of flat-bottomed boats and stores which were being collected at Havre for an invasion of the English coasts

Appointed Rear-Admiral, and was shortly after given command of a small squadron intended to destroy a large number of flat-bottomed boats and stores which were being collected at Havre for an invasion of the English coasts

Takes many more of the enemys flat-bottomed boats and in blockades the French coast as far as Dieppe

Rodney extends British pressure along the French coast as far as Dieppe while capturing enemy flat-bottomed craft.

Takes many more of the enemys flat-bottomed boats and in blockades the French coast as far as Dieppe

Appointed Commander in Chief of the Leeward Islands station

Elected Member of Parliament for Penryn

Captures Granada

Captures the Island of Martinique

Captures St Lucia

At the peace of 1763, Admiral Rodney returns, home, having been during his absence made Vice Admiral of the Blue and having received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament

Marries Henrietta, daughter of John Clies of Lisbon

Rodney is created a Baronet

Appointed Governor of Greenwich Hospital

Appointed Commander in Chief of the Jamaica station

Appointed Rear-Admiral of Great Britain

Gibraltar is relieved by the British, all but four of the Spanish fleet are destroyed

Defeats the Spanish during their siege of Gibraltar

Captures the Dutch Carribean Island of Eustatius, cripples the US contrabrand trade

Captures the Dutch Carribean Island of St Martin, cripples the US contrabrand trade

Raised to the peerage after the Battle of the Saints

Final sea Battle of the War of American Independence fought between the British West Indies fleet commanded by Admiral Rodney

Introduces the tactic of breaking the line, this Rodney did against de Grasse as the two fleets passed on opposing courses and the French line was forced into more open order by a change of wind.

Rodney's flagship, Formidable has 98 guns. Restores control of Caribbean by defeating a French fleet under de Grasse off Dominica.

with 36 ships of the line and his French counterpart Vice Admiral the Comte de Grasse with 30 ships of the line. Captures 7 ships

Created Baron Rodney of Rodney Stoke, Somerset, by patent, and the House of Commons vote him a pension of 2000 pounds a year

Death of George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney