John Thomas Duckworth British Admiral Date of Birth: 01.02.1748 Country: Great Britain

1. Early Life
2. Early Naval Career
3. Marriage and Command
4. Pre-French Revolutionary War
5. French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
6. Service in the Caribbean
7. Capture of Spanish Convoy and Command in Jamaica
8. Order of the Bath and Later Career

Early Life

John Thomas Duckworth was born in Leatherhead, Surrey, England, in 1743, to the vicar of the parish. His family consisted of five sons, of which he was the second. As a child, Duckworth received an education at Eton College before joining the Royal Navy as a midshipman aboard HMS Namur in 1759.

Early Naval Career

Duckworth's naval career progressed steadily. In 1764, he transferred to HMS Guernsey and served under Vice-Admiral Hugh Palliser in Newfoundland. In 1771, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant after being wounded in the head during a battle in the West Indies. He later became the first lieutenant of the frigate HMS Diamond during the American Revolutionary War.

Marriage and Command

Duckworth married Anne Wallis in 1776. In 1779, he was given command of his first ship, the sloop HMS Rover. A year later, he was promoted to the rank of captain and cruised off Martinique. Duckworth also briefly served aboard HMS Princess Royal and HMS Grafton.

Pre-French Revolutionary War

During the peaceful years preceding the French Revolutionary War, Duckworth captained HMS Bombay Castle in Plymouth. At the outbreak of war in 1792, he became a flag captain to Admiral Rodney and later transferred to HMS Princess Royal.

French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

Duckworth played a significant role in the war against France, commanding HMS Orion and HMS Queen in the Channel Fleet under Lord Howe. He participated in two preliminary skirmishes and the Battle of the Glorious First of June. Duckworth was among the 18 captains to receive a gold medal and the thanks of both Houses of Parliament.

Service in the Caribbean

In 1796, Duckworth was appointed commodore in Santo Domingo. In 1798, he led an expedition to capture Minorca, earning promotion to rear admiral the following year. He also commanded a detachment during the expedition to capture Ferrol in 1800. In the same year, he was appointed commander of the Barbados and Leeward Islands squadron.

Capture of Spanish Convoy and Command in Jamaica

In 1800, Duckworth captured a Spanish convoy, which earned him a significant amount of prize money. He was appointed commander-in-chief in Jamaica in 1801 and held the post until 1805.

Order of the Bath and Later Career

Duckworth was knighted in 1801 and awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in 1803 for his capture of several islands in the Caribbean. He spent much of 1802 commanding a squadron of 15 ships of the line in the West Indies. John Thomas Duckworth died in 1817.