| Sir Richard Spry | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1715 |
| Died | 25 November 1775 Place House, Cornwall |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service |  Royal Navy |
| Rank | Rear-Admiral of the Red |
| Commands | North American Station Mediterranean Fleet Plymouth Command |
| Battles / wars | War of the Austrian Succession Seven Years' War |
Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Spry (1715– 25 November 1775) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, North American Station.
Naval career
After an education at Truro Grammar School Spry joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer in 1733. Following the sinking of his ship by the Spanish Navy he was taken prisoner in 1745 but released two months later.
He took part in the siege of Pondicherry in India in 1750.
From 17 October 1753 to 5 June 1754 he was captain of the frigate HMS Garland.
In 1755 he became senior officer at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and in 1758 took part in the successful Siege of Louisbourg. He was given command of HMS Orford in 1760. In 1762 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief, North American Station. In 1766 he was promoted to the rank of Commodore and appointed Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Station.
Spry returned to England in 1769. In 1770 he was promoted to rear admiral and went on to be Port Admiral at Plymouth in 1771.
Spry was knighted at Portsmouth on 24 June 1773 and retired to Place House in St Anthony in Roseland, Cornwall. He died there in 1775. His memorial in St Anthony's Church there is by Humphrey Hopper.
References
- "Spry, Richard" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
- File:Memorials to the Spry family in St Anthony's church, St Anthony in Roseland-8952.jpg
- Richard Polwhele, The History of Cornwall, Civil, Military, Religious, Architectural, Agricultural, Commercial, Biographical, and Miscellaneous, vols. 4-7 (Michel & Co., 1816), p. 66
- ^ Richard Spry at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- "Richard Spry". Three Decks. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ Hardy 1783, p. 56
- Burke, J.; Colburn, H.; Bentley, R.; Cumming, J.; Whittingham, C.; Bell & Bradfute (1838). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, Enjoying Territorial Possessions Or High Official Rank: But Uninvested with Heritable Honours. Henry Colburn. p. 695.
- "Vice-Admiral William Bligh". The Peerage. 20 April 2009.
- Cornwall: Walking along the Roseland peninsula Daily Telegraph, 12 August 2000
- Gunnis, Rupert (1953). Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851. Odhams.
Bibliography
- Hardy, John (1783). A Chronological List of the Captains of His Majesty's Royal Navy (PDF). London: T. Cadell. OCLC 8908960.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded bySir George Edgcumbe | Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth 1771–1775 |
Succeeded byJohn Amherst |