Sir Francis Geary, 1st Baronet

Infobox Military Person
name=Francis Geary, 1st Baronet
lived=1709 – 7 February 1796


caption=
placeofbirth = Cardiganshire
placeofdeath =
nickname=
residence = United Kingdom
nationality = British
allegiance=United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland
serviceyears=
rank=Admiral
branch= Royal Navy
commands=HMS|Squirrel|1727|6
HMS|Dolphin|1731|6
HMS|Chester|1743|6
HMS|Culloden|1747|6
HMS|Somerset|1748|6
HMS|Lenox|1758|6
HMS|Resolution|1758|6
unit=
battles=
awards=
relations=Francis Geary (Son)

Sir Francis Geary (1709 – 7 February 1796) was an officer of the Royal Navy. He served during the War of the Austrian Succession, the Seven Years' War, and the American Revolutionary War, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral.

Family and early life

Geary was born in 1709 to a family that resided at Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire but that moved to England shortly after his birth. [The Naval Chronicle suggests he was born in England, but the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography indicates he was born before the family's move from Wales.] He spent his early years at Areall Magna, near Wellington, Shropshire, and later at Cheddington, Buckinghamshire.cite book |last= |title=The Naval Chronicle |pages=p. 178] Before joining the navy, he was a noted bellringer, a member of the Ancient Society of College Youths, he participated in several early, record-breaking peals at St Bride's Church, Fleet Street, London.cite web|first=Roger|last=Knight|authorlink=R. J. B. Knight|title=Geary, Sir Francis, first baronet (1709/10–1796)|work=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|publisher=Oxford University Press|month=September|year=2004; online edition, January 2008|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/10483|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/10483|accessdate=2008-09-05] He entered the navy in 1727, serving as a volunteer aboard HMS "Revenge". He sailed with "Revenge" into the Baltic, as part of a squadron under Admiral Sir John Norris. On her return to Britain "Revenge" was reassigned to sail with a fleet under Sir Charles Wager that was despatched to relieve Gibraltar. Geary spent the next fifteen years with the navy gradually progressing to midshipman, and then lieutenant.cite book |last= |title=The Naval Chronicle |pages=p. 179]

First commands

Geary was promoted to command HMS|Squirrel|1727|6 on 30 June 1742. He cruised off Madeira, capturing a Spanish privateer, and capturing and burning a Spanish armed ship. On 10 February 1743 he came across the Spanish chartered French merchant "Pierre Joseph". The "Pierre Joseph" was carrying a valuable cargo of silver, cochineal, indigo, hides and other goods. Geary boarded the vessel and took her as a prize. Geary then moved to command HMS|Dolphin|1731|6 in early 1744, but was assigned to command HMS|Chester|1743|6 on 17 February.cite book |last= |title=The Naval Chronicle |pages=p. 180] He quickly departed on a cruise in company with HMS|Sunderland|1724|6, and on 20 February the two ships came across the French frigate "Elephant", capturing her after a short battle. Geary took part in the capture of eight French merchants later in 1744, and took part in a court-martial aboard HMS|Lenox|1678|6 in February 1745. He was then assigned to go to Louisbourg and support Commodore Peter Warren's assault on the fortress.cite book |last= |title=The Naval Chronicle |pages=p. 181] He briefly participated, but was ordered home with despatches and so did not receive a share of the rewards.

Geary had by now secured a powerful patron, John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford, who was then the First Lord of the Admiralty, and through Russell's actions, Geary was appointed to command the 74-gun HMS|Culloden|1747|6.cite book |last= |title=The Naval Chronicle |pages=p. 182] He was sent to reinforce Rear-Admiral Edward Hawke in the Bay of Biscay in 1747, and spent the rest of the war there, returning in 1748. He was then promoted to Commodore and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the squadron in the Medway, but relinquished the command in September that year. He married Mary Bartholomew that month and spent the peace in quiet retirement. He had purchased the estate of Polesden Lacey in 1747.

Return to service

The increase of tensions prior to the outbreak of the Seven Years' War led to Geary's return to service in 1755. He was assigned to the 70-gun HMS|Somerset|1748|6, and sailed to North America with Admiral Edward Boscawen's fleet, returning in November.cite book |last= |title=The Naval Chronicle |pages=p. 182] At the end of 1755 Geary received orders to join the Channel Squadron under Sir Edward Hawke. During the winter of 1756 and into early 1757 Geary was part of the court-martial of Admiral John Byng. In April Geary aboard the "Somerset", and in company with HMS|Rochester|1749|6, captured a number of privateers. In February 1758 Geary was given command of HMS|Lenox|1758|6, moving the following year to HMS|Resolution|1758|6. He sailed "Resolution" as part of the fleet under Hawke, quickly being assigned to command a squadron of ten ships of the line, two frigates and a fireship. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral of the Blue on either 19 May or 5 June, and on 7 July moved his flag to the 90-gun HMS|Sandwich|1759|6. He moved again on 29 August to HMS|Royal George|1756|6 whilst the "Sandwich" underwent a refit, returning to "Sandwich" in late September.

Geary remained with Hawke, patrolling off the French coast, before returning with the fleet in November. The "Sandwich" had lost her main-mast in a storm, and was forced to remain in port as Hawke put to sea again. Geary was therefore unable to take part in Hawke's victory at Quiberon Bay on 20 November.cite book |last= |title=The Naval Chronicle |pages=p. 183] Geary spent the rest of 1759 and some of 1760 patrolling off Ushant. After a stay in port, he put to sea again on 30 April to intercept a French squadron assembling at Rochefort for a voyage to the East Indies. He cruised off the port until it became clear the French had abandoned the expedition, on which he was ordered to rejoin Hawke. He returned to Britain in October and became Port Admiral at Spithead, flying his flag aboard HMS|Royal Sovereign|1701|6. He oversaw preparations for the expedition against Belle Île, and those for Sir George Pocock's expedition against Cuba.cite book |last= |title=The Naval Chronicle |pages=p. 184]

Further advances

Geary was promoted to Vice-Admiral of the Blue on 21 October 1762. He remained at Spithead, with a brief period in command at the Nore, until the peace in 1763 ended the war. He struck his flag and entered another period of retirement until 1770, when increasing tensions with Spain led to his return to service and his promotion to Vice-Admiral of the Red on 17 October.cite book |last= |title=The Naval Chronicle |pages=p. 185] He retired again after the relieving of tensions led to a reduction in the navy. Though not on active service, he continued to rise through the ranks based on his seniority. He became Admiral of the Blue on 31 March 1775, and Admiral of the White on 29 January 1778.cite book |last= |title=The Naval Chronicle |pages=p. 186] The death of Admiral Sir Charles Hardy in May 1780 led to Geary being recalled to service, despite being in poor health. He hoisted his flag aboard the 100-gun first rate HMS|Victory, with Richard Kempenfelt as his flag captain and took command of the Channel Fleet. Geary put to sea, patrolling off Brest in the hope of preventing the joining of the French and Spanish fleets.cite book |last= |title=The Naval Chronicle |pages=p. 188] Sails were sighted on 9 July, and Geary gave chase believing them to be one of the enemy fleets. It was found that they were instead an enemy merchant convoy. Geary engaged and captured twelve of the merchants, the rest escaping under cover of fog.cite book |last= |title=The Naval Chronicle |pages=p. 189]

Retirement and death

Geary returned to port in August, but was taken ill and returned to Polesden Lacey. Feeling himself unfit to retain command, he requested and received permission to resign. He was created a baronet on 3 August 1782, and died at the age of 86 on 7 February 1796.cite book |last= |title=The Naval Chronicle |pages=p. 191]

Family and personal life

Geary married Mary Bartholomew in 1747. The marriage produced two sons and three daughters. His eldest son, also named Francis, joined the army. He became a Cornet, but was killed in North America in an ambush in 1776. Mary died on 28 August 1778. Francis Geary's second son, William, inherited the baronetcy on his death.

Notes

References

*cite book |title=The Naval Chronicle |accessdate=2008-09-05 |year=1907 |publisher=J. Gold |pages=pp. 177–192 |chapter=Biographical Memoir of the Late Sir Francis Geary, Bart
* [http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/explore/object.cfm?ID=BHC2707 History and portraits of Admiral Sir Francis Geary]
* [http://www.stnicolasbookham.org.uk/Hist3c-Geary.htm Ancestry of the Gearys]
*cite book |first=John|last=Burke|title=A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the United Kingdom, for M.D.CCC.XXVI. |accessdate=2008-09-05 |year=1826 |publisher=H. Colburn |pages=pp. 126-127