Sir George Duckett, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir George Duckett, 1st Baronet
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| Born |
George Jackson
24 October 1725 |
| Died | 22 December 1822 (aged 97) |
| Occupation | Administrator, politician |
Sir George Duckett, 1st Baronet (born George Jackson) was an important British official and politician. He lived a very long life, from 1725 to 1822. He helped manage the British Navy and was also a member of Parliament. He is also remembered for being a friend of the famous explorer, Captain James Cook.
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Who Was Sir George Duckett?
George Jackson was born on October 24, 1725. He was probably born in Yorkshire, England. He was the third son of George Jackson, but he was the oldest son who survived to adulthood. His family lived in places like Hill House and Ellerton Abbey.
Early Life and Career
George Jackson started his career helping the government. In 1766, he became the Deputy Secretary to The Admiralty. The Admiralty was the part of the British government that managed the Royal Navy. It was a very important job.
Two years later, in 1768, he got another important role. He was made the Judge Advocate of the Fleet. This meant he was the chief legal officer for the Navy. He was in charge of making sure naval trials, called court martials, were fair.
As Judge Advocate, George Jackson had a big responsibility. He was in charge of a famous court martial in 1779. This was the trial of Admiral Lord Keppel. After the trial, he also helped with an investigation into the evidence given by another officer, Sir Hugh Palliser.
Jackson left his job as secretary in 1782. However, he continued to be the Judge Advocate until he passed away.
Friend of Captain Cook
Sir George Duckett was a good friend and supporter of Captain James Cook. Captain Cook was a famous explorer who sailed around the world. Because of their friendship, Captain Cook named two places after George Jackson.
- One place is Cape Jackson, New Zealand in New Zealand.
- The other is Port Jackson in New South Wales, Australia. This is where the city of Sydney is located today!
Improving Waterways
George Jackson was also very interested in making travel easier by improving waterways. These are rivers and canals used for boats. He owned the Stort Navigation in Hertfordshire, England. This was a system of canals and locks that helped boats move goods.
Family and Name Change
George Jackson married his cousin, Mary Ward, in 1745. They had three sons and three daughters together. Sadly, Mary passed away in 1754.
Later, in 1775, he married Grace Neale. She was a widow and the granddaughter of another important person named George Duckett. George and Grace had one son named George, who was born in 1777.
In 1791, George Jackson was given a special honor. He was made a baronet. This is a title that can be passed down in a family, like a knight but with a hereditary title.
In 1797, something interesting happened. George Jackson changed his name to Sir George Duckett. He did this because of a will from Grace's uncle, Thomas Duckett. He took on the Duckett family name and coat of arms. When Sir George Duckett passed away, his son George inherited his title and became the 2nd Baronet.
