Charles Saunders (Royal Navy officer)
| Sir Charles Saunders | |
|---|---|
 Sir Charles Saunders |
|
| Born | 1715 |
| Died | 7 December 1775 |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/branch |  Royal Navy |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | Mediterranean Fleet |
| Battles/wars | Seven Years' War |
| Awards | Knight of the Order of the Bath |
Admiral Sir Charles Saunders, KB (c. 1715 – 7 December 1775) was a Royal Navy officer in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and later served as First Lord of the Admiralty. He was appointed to the Privy Council in 1766.
[edit] Early career
Saunders joined the Royal Navy in 1727.[1] He later commanded HMS Gloucester and then HMS Yarmouth.[1] He was Member of Parliament for Plymouth from 1750 to 1754 and then represented the Yorkshire borough of Hedon from 1754 until his death.[1] In December 1755 he was made comptroller of the navy and in January 1756 and was sent to Gibraltar as Second in Command of the Mediterranean Fleet.[1] In January 1757 he became Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet.[1] He held the post until May 1757.[1]
[edit] Seven Years war
He commanded the fleet which brought James Wolfe to Quebec in 1759[1] and consolidated the dead general's victory after the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.
In April 1760 he resumed his role as Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet and blockaded Cadiz preventing the French and Spanish fleets from sailing.[1]
Cape Saunders, on the Otago coast of New Zealand, was named in his honour by Captain James Cook, who had served under Saunders in Canada.
[edit] References
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Savage Mostyn |
Comptroller of the Navy 1755–1756 |
Succeeded by George Cockburne |
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by Vere Beauclerk |
Member of Parliament for Plymouth 1750 – 1754 |
Succeeded by The Viscount Barrington |
| Preceded by Luke Robinson John Savile |
Member of Parliament for Hedon with Peter Denis 1754–1768 Beilby Thompson 1768–1775 1754 – 1775 |
Succeeded by Beilby Thompson Lewis Watson |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by The Earl of Egmont |
First Lord of the Admiralty 1766 |
Succeeded by Sir Edward Hawke |
|
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- 1713 births
- 1775 deaths
- British MPs 1747–1754
- British MPs 1754–1761
- British MPs 1761–1768
- British MPs 1768–1774
- British MPs 1774–1780
- Knights Companion of the Order of the Bath
- Lords of the Admiralty
- Members of the Privy Council of Great Britain
- Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies
- Naval history of Canada
- Royal Navy admirals
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- Royal Navy personnel stubs
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