Sir Richard Bickerton, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Richard Bickerton, 1st Baronet
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|---|---|
| Born | 23 June 1727 |
| Died | 25 February 1792 (aged 64) |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1746–1792 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands held | Etna Culloden Glasgow Lively Renown Marlborough Princess Augusta Terrible Fortitude Princess Augusta (again) Leeward Islands Station Plymouth Command |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Ushant (1778) Battle of Cuddalore |
| Other work | Member of Parliament for Rochester (1790–1792) |
Sir Richard Bickerton (born June 23, 1727, died February 25, 1792) was a brave officer in the British Royal Navy. He rose to become a Rear Admiral. He was also given a special title, the first Baronet Bickerton of Upwood. Sir Richard fought in several important naval battles. He was the Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth when he passed away in 1792. His son, Richard Hussey Bickerton, also became a high-ranking officer in the Royal Navy. He inherited his father's special title.
Richard Bickerton was born on June 23, 1727. He was the third son of a military officer. He went to Westminster School when he was younger. In 1739, at just 12 years old, he joined the navy. He served on several ships, including Suffolk and Victory.
He became a lieutenant on February 8, 1746. He was only 18 years old then. In 1748, he served as a lieutenant on the ship Worcester.
Rising Through the Ranks: From Commander to Captain
On August 2, 1758, Richard Bickerton became a Master and Commander. He was in charge of the fireship Etna. A fireship was used to set enemy ships on fire.
He was promoted to Captain on August 21, 1759. He was given command of the large ship Culloden. Soon after, he moved to a smaller ship, Glasgow. He sailed to the West Indies on this ship in 1760. He returned to England in 1761. For a short time, he commanded another ship called Lively.
Important Commands and Knighthood
In 1767, Captain Bickerton took command of Renown. He sailed to the West Indies again. In 1771, he became captain of the large ship Marlborough. He stayed in this role for almost three years.
He was honored by the King on June 24, 1773. He was made a knight, so people called him "Sir Richard." After this, he commanded the Royal yacht Princess Augusta. From October 1776, he commanded Terrible. While on Terrible, he captured an American ship called Rising States in 1777.
Becoming a Baronet and Fighting in Battles
On May 29, 1778, Sir Richard was given an even higher honor. He was made a Baronet of Upwood. This meant his title could be passed down to his children.
While still commanding the Terrible, he showed great bravery. He fought in the Battle of Ushant on July 27, 1778. This was an important naval battle.
In 1780, Sir Richard took command of a new ship, Fortitude. Later, he commanded the Royal yacht Princess Augusta again. In 1782, he became a commodore. He led a group of ships, called a squadron, to India.
In the Indian Ocean, his squadron joined a larger fleet. This fleet was led by Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hughes. Sir Richard took part in the Battle of Cuddalore on June 20, 1783. After the fighting ended, he returned to England. For a short time in 1786, he was the Commander-in-Chief of the Leeward Islands Station.
Reaching Flag Rank and Political Life
Sir Richard Bickerton reached a very high rank on September 24, 1787. He became a Rear Admiral of the Blue. He was promoted again on September 21, 1790, to Rear Admiral of the White. At this time, he was on the ship Impregnable.
In 1790, he was elected to the British House of Commons. This meant he became a Member of Parliament for Rochester. He kept this position until he passed away. Sir Richard died suddenly on September 25, 1792. At the time of his death, he was the Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth. He was serving on the ship St. George.
Sir Richard Bickerton's Family
In 1758, Sir Richard Bickerton married Mary Anne Hussey. They had two sons and two daughters. One of their sons was Richard Hussey Bickerton. He followed in his father's footsteps and became a very successful naval officer. When his father died, Richard Hussey Bickerton became the 2nd Baronet. He rose even higher in the Navy, becoming an Admiral of the Red.
