Sir Richard King, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir Richard King (born August 10, 1730, died November 7, 1806) was an important British naval officer. He was also a colonial governor, meaning he helped manage a British territory far from home. He rose through the ranks to become an Admiral in the Royal Navy.
Quick facts for kids
Sir Richard King, Bt
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|---|---|
| Born | 10 August 1730 |
| Died | 7 November 1806 (aged 76) |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | HMS Blaze HMS Grafton HMS Northumberland HMS Pallas HMS Exeter The Downs Plymouth Command |
Contents
Sir Richard King was born in Gosport, England. His parents were Curtis King and Mary Barnett. From a young age, he chose a life at sea.
Starting His Career
In 1738, when he was just eight years old, Richard King joined the Royal Navy. This was the powerful navy of Great Britain. He served on a ship called HMS Berwick.
By 1745, he had become a lieutenant on HMS Tiger. A lieutenant is an officer rank, showing he was moving up. In 1756, he was promoted again to commander of a special ship called a fireship, HMS Blaze. Fireships were used to set enemy ships on fire.
Important Battles in India
King played a key role in battles far away in India. In 1756, he helped capture Calcutta. The next year, 1757, he led a group of soldiers who landed from ships to capture Hoogly. These were important victories for Britain.
Commanding More Ships
After his successes, King continued to command many different ships. In 1763, he took charge of HMS Grafton. Later, in 1770, he commanded HMS Northumberland. He also led HMS Pallas starting in 1778, and HMS Exeter from 1779.
Knighted and Promoted
In 1782, Richard King was honored for his bravery and service near Madras, India. He was knighted, which means he was given the title "Sir."
He continued to rise in rank. In 1787, he became a Rear Admiral. This is a very high rank in the navy. In 1790, he was put in charge of a naval base called The Downs.
Governor of Newfoundland
In 1792, Sir Richard King received another special honor: he became a baronet. This is a hereditary title, meaning it could be passed down to his son. That same year, he was made the commander-in-chief and Governor of Newfoundland. Newfoundland is a large island off the coast of Canada.
While he was governor, France declared war on Britain. King quickly acted and captured St. Pierre and Miquelon for the British. These were islands near Newfoundland. For his actions, he was promoted to Vice-Admiral in 1793.
Later Life and Politics
In 1794, Sir Richard King became a Member of Parliament for Rochester. This meant he also served in the British government, helping to make laws. He held this position until 1802.
He was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth in 1794. Finally, in 1795, he reached the highest rank: Admiral.
Sir Richard King's Family
In 1769, Sir Richard King married Susannah Margaretta Coker. They had four children. One of their sons, also named Richard, later became Sir Richard King, 2nd Baronet.
See also
- Governors of Newfoundland
- List of people from Newfoundland and Labrador
