Nov. 9, 1805; Admiral, Dec. 4, 1813; and nominated a K.C.B., Jan. 2, 1815. He married a daughter of the late Hon. Col. Peter Foy[errata 1], who was Judge of the Superior Court of Massachussets, previous to the revolt of the colonies. By that lady he has had a numerous family. Two of his sons are officers in the navy; several of his daughters are married.
To Sir John Knight’s peculiar abilities, in addition to his professional talents, the public are much indebted for his nautical observations, in many valuable charts of America, the Mediterranean, British Channel, &c.[1]
SIR EDWARD THORNBROUGH.
Admiral of the White; Knight Commander of the most honourable Military Order of the Bath; and a Vice-President of the Naval Charitable Society.
This officer is a native of Devonshire. We are not acquainted with the particulars of his services previous to 1775, in which year he proceeded to America in the Falcon sloop, as First Lieutenant, and arrived at Boston three days before the fight at Lexington, which was the first act of open hostility committed by the rebellious colonies[2]. The Falcon was also
- ↑ The late Captain Wm. Robt. Broughton, who died at Florence, on the 12th March, 1821, was a Midshipman in the Falcon, and taken prisoner with Lieutenant Knight, in whom he ever afterwards found a steady patron. Captain Broughton being some years afterwards employed on a voyage of discovery, found an island in lat. 48° S., long. 166° 44’, to which he gave the name of Knight’s Island, as a compliment to his friend.
- ↑ The year 1775 forms a memorable epoch in the annals of Great Britain, as it presents the commencement of that war, which terminated in the loss of her North American colonies. A petition and remonstrance from the provincials met in Congress, having been rejected by the English ministry, on the ground of its want of constitutional form, and a military force ordered to reduce the refractory to obedience, that assembly proceeded to discipline and arm the militia of the colonies, and to stand on the defensive. It was not long before the certain result of this state of irritation displayed itself at Lexington, where a detachment of troops on their way to destroy a quantity of military stores, collected by the Americans at the town of Concord, were opposed by a body of militia; and a skirmish ensued, which ended in the regulars being compelled to retreat, with the loss
- ↑ Correction: Foy should be amended to Fry
