Samuel Graves.html



Admiral Samuel Graves RN (1713 - 1787) was a British Admiral who fought for the British in the American Revolution.

Life

Samuel Graves was born in 1713 (Of English descent, in the 8th generation of his family in North America) and married Elizabeth Sedgwick, daughter of John Sedgwick of Staindrop (County Durham). After Elizabeth's death in 1767 he married again in 1769, his second wife being Margaret Spinkes, daughter of Elmer Spinkes of Aldwinkle in Northamptonshire an elder sister of Elizabeth Simcoe. He had no children, just a ward (daughter of his late sister-in-law) who married his godson John Graves Simcoe, who later became first Governor General of Upper Canada. Samuel Graves died at his estate at Hembury Fort, Honiton, Devon.

He was the uncle of Admiral Thomas Graves, 1st Baron Graves, who was a first cousin of Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Graves.

Profession

• 1774: Admiral Samuel Graves goes to North America

• 1774: Vice-Admiral Samuel Graves is stationed in Preston in North America

• June 1774-January 1776: Vice-Admiral Samuel Graves is commander of the North American Squadron of the Royal Navy

• 1775 June 17: Admiral Samuel Graves commands the fleet elements within the harbor of Boston in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

• 1775 October 6: Admiral Samuel Graves orders Falmouth in the British colony of Maine to be bombarded which is destroyed by Captain Henry Mowat, master of the British armed vessel Canceaux, on October 18.