Richard Spry

Sir Richard Spry
Born 1715
Died 25 November 1775
Place House, Cornwall
Allegiance  Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch  Royal Navy
Rank Admiral
Commands held North American Station
Mediterranean Fleet
Plymouth Command
Battles/wars War of the Austrian Succession
Seven Years' War

Admiral Sir Richard Spry (1715[1]– 25 November 1775[2]) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, North American Station.

Naval career

After an education at Truro Grammar School[3] Spry joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer in 1733.[4] Following the sinking of his ship by the Spanish Navy he was taken prisoner in 1745 but released two months later.[4] He took part in the siege of Pondicherry in India in 1750.[4]

In 1755 he became senior officer at Halifax[4] and in 1758 took part in the successful Siege of Louisbourg.[4] He was given command of HMS Orford in 1760.[4] In 1762 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief, North American Station.[4] In 1766 he became Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Station returning to England in 1769.[4] He went on to be Port Admiral at Plymouth[5] in 1771.[6]

Memorial in St Anthony's church, St Anthony in Roseland

He lived in Place House in St Anthony in Roseland, Cornwall,[7] where he died in 1775.[4]

References

  1. ↑  "Spry, Richard". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  2. ↑ File:Memorials to the Spry family in St Anthony's church, St Anthony in Roseland-8952.jpg
  3. ↑ Richard Polwhele, The History of Cornwall, Civil, Military, Religious, Architectural, Agricultural, Commercial, Biographical, and Miscellaneous, vols. 4-7 (Michel & Co., 1816), p. 66
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Richard Spry at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  5. ↑ A genealogical and heraldic history of the commoners of Great Britain, Volume 4, p. 695
  6. ↑ "Vice-Admiral William Bligh". The Peerage. 20 April 2009.
  7. ↑ Cornwall: Walking along the Roseland peninsula Daily Telegraph, 12 August 2000
Military offices
Preceded by
Sir George Edgcumbe		 Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
1771–1775 		Succeeded by
John Amherst
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