Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p1.djvu/155

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

125

SIR RICHARD HUSSEY BICKERTON,
Baronet; Admiral of the White; Lieutenant-General of the Royal Marines; Knight Commander of the most honorable Military Order of the Bath; Knight of the Imperial Ottoman Order of the Crescent; a Vice-President of the Naval Charitable Society; and Fellow of the Royal Society.

The immediate founder of this family was a Captain in the 4th regiment of Dragoons, and signalized himself in Flanders, where he died. The subject of the following memoir is the only surviving son of the late Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton, Bart. M.P.^[1] by Marie-Anne, daughter of Thomas Hussey, of Wrexham in Denbighshire, Esq.; was born Oct. 11, 1759; entered the naval service in Dec. 1771 as a Midshipman on board the Marlborough 74, commanded by his father, with whom he removed, Oct. 1773, into the Princess Augusta yacht; and from her was discharged, June 1774, into the Medway, of 60 guns, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Mann, Commander-in-Chief on the Mediterranean station, with whom he continued till 1776, and was then lent to the Enterprise frigate, commanded by Sir Thomas Rich, as affording a better opportunity for him to learn his duty. He afterwards joined the Invincible, of 74 guns, Captain Hyde Parker, and returned to England in Nov. 1777.

In December, 1777, Mr. Bickerton was made a Lieutenant, and appointed to the Prince George; but soon after left that ship, and accompanied Captain Middleton (afterwards Lord Barham), into the Jupiter, of 50 guns.

On the 20th Oct. 1778, the Jupiter, then commanded by

↑ The late Sir Richard Bickerton was made a Lieutenant about the year 1745; became a Post-Captain in 1759; bore apart in the battle between Sir Edward Hughes and M. de Suffrein, June 20, 1783; was Commodore of the squadron at the Leeward Islands in 1786; and subsequently held the chief command at Plymouth. In 1773, when his late Majesty reviewed the fleet at Portsmouth, he had the honor of steering the royal barge, and on that occasion was knighted. His patent of Baronetcy bears date May 19, 1778. During his professional career, he repeatedly distinguished himself in a very eminent manner, nobly earning the honors which his Sovereign as liberally bestowed on him, anil which he transmitted unsullied to his son.

[1] The late Sir Richard Bickerton was made a Lieutenant about the year 1745; became a Post-Captain in 1759; bore apart in the battle between Sir Edward Hughes and M. de Suffrein, June 20, 1783; was Commodore of the squadron at the Leeward Islands in 1786; and subsequently held the chief command at Plymouth. In 1773, when his late Majesty reviewed the fleet at Portsmouth, he had the honor of steering the royal barge, and on that occasion was knighted. His patent of Baronetcy bears date May 19, 1778. During his professional career, he repeatedly distinguished himself in a very eminent manner, nobly earning the honors which his Sovereign as liberally bestowed on him, anil which he transmitted unsullied to his son.

[1]