Philip Durell

Philip Durell

Philip Durell
Born 1707
Died 26 August 1766
Allegiance  Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch  Royal Navy
Rank Vice-Admiral
Commands held HMS Eltham
HMS Gloucester
HMS Terrible
HMS Trident
Plymouth Command
Battles/wars War of the Austrian Succession
Seven Years' War

Vice-Admiral Philip Durell (1707 26 August 1766) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Port Admiral at Plymouth.

Naval career

Durell joined the Royal Navy as an ordinary seaman in 1721.[1] In 1742 he was appointed Post Captain on HMS Eltham and sailed to the West Indies.[1] In 1745 he took part in the successful Siege of Louisbourg during the War of the Austrian Succession.[1] He was appointed Captain of HMS Gloucester and took part in the defeat of the French Navy at Cape Ortegal off Spain in 1747.[1] As Captain of HMS Terrible from March 1755, he joined Rear-Admiral Francis Holburne’s squadron supporting Vice-Admiral Edward Boscawen in North America off Louisbourg later that year.[1]

Becoming Captain of HMS Trident he was part of Vice-Admiral John Byng's fleet which failed to engage with the enemy at the start of the Seven Years' War leading to the loss of Minorca in 1756.[1] Promoted to Commodore in January 1758, he took part in the Siege of Louisbourg in June and July 1758 and subsequent capture of the Fortress of Louisbourg in July 1758.[1] Then in September 1759 he took part in the capture of Quebec.[1]

He became Port Admiral at Plymouth in June 1761.[1] In 1766 he was named Commander-in-Chief of the North American Station but died within days of his arrival in North America.[1]

He is buried in St Paul's Church in Halifax.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Douglas, W. A. B. (1979–2016). "Durell, Philip". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
  2. Vice-Admiral Philip Durell
Military offices
Preceded by
Unknown
Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
1761–1763
Succeeded by
Lord Colville
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