PropertyValue
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  • George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney
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  • George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, KB (bap. 13 February 1718 – 24 May 1792) was a British naval officer. He is best known for his commands in the American War of Independence, particularly his victory over the French at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782. It is often claimed that he was the commander to have pioneered the tactic of "breaking the line". The use of Rodney as a first name originates with the admiral. It became a popular name for boys at the end of the eighteenth century.
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serviceyears
  • 1732
Birth Date
  • --02-13
Residence
Commands
death place
  • Hanover Square, London
Name
  • Types of Naval Officers
  • George Brydges Rodney
No
  • 18314
Caption
  • Admiral Rodney at the Battle of the Saintes, 1782 by Thomas Gainsborough. Behind is the French fleur de lys naval ensign from the captured Ville De Paris
Birth Place
  • Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
Title
Awards
Rank
Battles
  • *War of the Austrian Succession **Second Battle of Cape Finisterre (1747) *Seven Years' War **Raid on Rochefort **Raid on Le Havre **British Blockade of France (1756-1762) **Siege of Louisbourg (1758) **British expedition against Martinique (1762) **British expedition against Grenada (1762) **British expedition against St Lucia (1762) **British expedition against Cuba (1762) *American War of Independence **Cape Finisterre (1780) **Battle of Cape St. Vincent **Relief of Gibraltar **Battle of Martinique (1780) **French invasion of Tobago **Battle of the Saintes *Fourth Anglo–Dutch War **Capture of Sint Eustatius (1781) *
Before
Years
  • 1749
  • 1751
  • 1759
  • 1761
  • 1765
  • 1769
  • 1771
  • 1780
  • 1781
  • 1782
After
placeofburial
Nationality
abstract
  • George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, KB (bap. 13 February 1718 – 24 May 1792) was a British naval officer. He is best known for his commands in the American War of Independence, particularly his victory over the French at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782. It is often claimed that he was the commander to have pioneered the tactic of "breaking the line". Rodney came from a distinguished but poor background, and went to sea at the age of fourteen. His first major action was the Second Battle of Cape Finisterre in 1747. He made a large amount of prize money during the 1740s, allowing him to purchase a large country estate and a seat in the House of Commons of Great Britain. During the Seven Years' War, Rodney was involved in a number of amphibious operations such as the raids on Rochefort and Le Havre and the Siege of Louisbourg. He became well known for his role in the capture of Martinique in 1762. Following the Peace of Paris, Rodney's financial situation stagnated. He spent large sums of money pursuing his political ambitions. By 1774 he had run up large debts and was forced to flee Britain to avoid his creditors. He ended up imprisoned in a French Jail, where he was when war was declared in 1778. Thanks to a benefactor, Rodney was able to secure his release and returned to Britain where he was appointed to a new command. Rodney successfully relieved Gibraltar during the Great Siege and defeated a Spanish fleet during the 1780 Battle of Cape St. Vincent, known as the "Moonlight Battle" because it took place at night. He then was posted to the West Indies, where he became involved in the controversial 1781 capture of Sint Eustatius. Later that year he briefly returned home suffering from ill health. During his absence the British lost the crucial Battle of the Chesapeake leading to the surrender at Yorktown. To some Rodney was a controversial figure, accused of an obsession with prize money and nepotism. This was brought to a head in the wake of his taking of Sint Eustatius for which he was heavily criticised in Britain. Orders for his recall had been sent when Rodney won a decisive victory at the Battle of the Saintes in April 1782, ending the French threat to Jamaica. On his return to Britain, Rodney was made a peer and was awarded an annual pension of £2,000. He lived in retirement until his death in 1792. The use of Rodney as a first name originates with the admiral. It became a popular name for boys at the end of the eighteenth century.
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