View source for Sir William Parker, 1st Baronet, of Shenstone

{{Short description|British admiral}}
{{Distinguish|Sir William Parker, 1st Baronet, of Harburn}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]]
| name          = Sir William Parker
| honorific_suffix = [[Baronet|Bt]], GCB
| image         = Admiral Sir William Parker.jpg
| image_size    = 250px
| caption       = Portrait of Admiral Sir William Parker
| nickname      =
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1781|12|01|df=y}}
| birth_place   = [[Almington]], [[Staffordshire]], England
| death_date    = {{death date and age|1866|11|13|1781|12|01|df=y}}
| death_place   = [[Shenstone, Staffordshire|Shenstone]] Lodge, Staffordshire, England
| allegiance    = {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[United Kingdom]]
| branch        = [[File:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|22px]] [[Royal Navy]]
| serviceyears  = 1793–1857
| rank          = [[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]]
| unit          =
| commands      = [[HMS Stork (1796)|HMS ''Stork'']]<br>[[HMS Alarm (1799)|HMS ''Alarm'']]<br>[[HMS Amazon (1799)|HMS ''Amazon'']]<br>[[HMS Warspite (1807)|HMS ''Warspite'']]<br>[[HMS Prince Regent (1820)|HMS ''Prince Regent'']]<br>[[East Indies and China Station]]<br>[[Mediterranean Fleet]]<br>[[Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth|Plymouth Command]]
| battles       = [[French Revolutionary Wars]]<br />[[Napoleonic Wars]]<br />[[Liberal Wars|Portuguese Civil War]]<br />[[First Opium War]]
| awards        = [[Order of the Bath|Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]
| laterwork     =
}}
[[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]] '''Sir William Parker, 1st Baronet''', [[Order of the Bath|GCB]] (1 December 1781 – 13 November 1866), was a [[Royal Navy]] officer. As a captain's servant he took part in the Battle of The [[Glorious First of June]] in June 1794 during the [[French Revolutionary Wars]] and, as a captain, he participated in the capture of the French ships [[French ship Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1795)|''Marengo'']] and [[HMS Belle Poule (1806)|''Belle Poule'']] at the [[action of 13 March 1806]] during the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. He was detached on an independent command on the [[Tagus]] in September 1831 with a mission to protect British interests during the [[Liberal Wars|Portuguese Civil War]]. As Commander-in-chief of the [[East Indies and China Station]], he provided naval support at various actions between 1841 and 1842 during the [[First Opium War]]. Appointed [[Mediterranean Fleet|Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet]] in February 1845, he was briefly (for a week) [[First Sea Lord|First Naval Lord]] in the [[First Russell ministry]] from 13 July 1846 to 24 July 1846 but gave up the role due to ill health before returning to his command with the Mediterranean Fleet.
==Early career==
[[File:HMS Amazon (1799) pursuing possible Belle Poule.jpg|thumb|left|The fifth-rate [[HMS Amazon (1799)|HMS ''Amazon'']] (left), a ship which Parker commanded]]
Born the son of George Parker (himself the second son of [[Thomas Parker (English judge)|Sir Thomas Parker]] who had been [[Chief Baron of the Exchequer|Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer]]), William Parker entered the [[Royal Navy]] in February 1793 as a captain's servant on the third-rate [[HMS Orion (1787)|HMS ''Orion'']], serving under Captain [[Sir John Duckworth, 1st Baronet|John Duckworth]].<ref name=odnb>{{cite ODNB | first=J. K. | last=Laughton | author-link = John Knox Laughton | chapter=Parker, Sir William, first baronet (1781–1866) | editor=rev. Andrew Lambert | title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography | year=2004 | doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/21348 | url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/21348 | access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref> In the ''Orion'', which was part of the [[Channel Fleet]] commanded by [[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Lord Howe]], Parker took part in the Battle of The [[Glorious First of June]] in June 1794 during the [[French Revolutionary Wars]].<ref name=heath206>Heathcote, p. 206</ref> When Captain Duckworth was assigned to another ship, the third-rate [[HMS Leviathan (1790)|HMS ''Leviathan'']], Parker followed him, and sailed with him to the [[North America and West Indies Station|West Indies Station]] where Duckworth appointed him acting lieutenant in the fifth-rate [[French frigate Magicienne (1778)|HMS ''Magicienne'']].<ref name=heath206/> He was appointed to the second-rate [[HMS Queen (1769)|HMS ''Queen'']], flagship of Admiral [[Hyde Parker (admiral)|Sir Hyde Parker]], in May 1798 and he became acting captain of the sixth-rate [[HMS Volage (1798)|HMS ''Volage'']] on 1 May 1799.<ref name=heath207>Heathcote, p. 207</ref> Promoted to [[lieutenant]] on 5 September 1799, he cruised for the next few months in HMS ''Volage'' in the [[Gulf of Mexico]] and off the coast of [[Cuba]].<ref name=odnb/> Promoted to [[commander]] on 10 October 1799, he was given command of the [[Sloop-of-war|sloop]] [[HMS Stork (1796)|HMS ''Stork'']] in November 1799.<ref name=heath207/> He returned to England and then spent nearly a year in HMS ''Stork'' in the [[North Sea]] or with the blockade fleet off [[Brest, France|Brest]].<ref name=odnb/>
Promoted to [[Captain (Royal Navy)|captain]] on 9{{nbsp}}October 1801, Parker assumed command of the sixth-rate [[HMS Alarm (1799)|HMS ''Alarm'']] in March 1802 and then the fifth-rate [[HMS Amazon (1799)|HMS ''Amazon'']] in October 1802 and remained with her for the next 9 years.<ref name=heath207/> The ''Amazon'' was attached to the fleet under Admiral [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Lord Nelson]] engaged in the pursuit of the French fleet to the [[West Indies]].<ref name=heath207/> She was then sent on a cruise westward and therefore missed the [[Battle of Trafalgar]].<ref name=odnb/> The ''Amazon'' was later attached to a squadron under Admiral [[Sir John Borlase Warren, 1st Baronet|Sir John Warren]], participating in the capture of the French ships [[French ship Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1795)|''Marengo'']] and [[HMS Belle Poule (1806)|''Belle Poule'']] at the [[action of 13 March 1806]] during the [[Napoleonic Wars]].<ref name=heath207/> After ''Amazon'' was paid off in January 1812, Parker went onto half-pay.<ref name=heath207/> He was appointed a [[Order of the Bath|Companion of the Order of the Bath]] on 4 June 1815.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue= 17061|date= 16 September 1815|page=1877}}</ref>
Parker purchased Shenstone Lodge near [[Lichfield]], where he lived for the next 15 years.<ref name=heath207/> He returned to sea as captain of the third-rate [[HMS Warspite (1807)|HMS ''Warspite'']] in 1827, and acted as senior officer off the coast of Greece in 1828.<ref name=heath207/> He was given command the [[yacht]] [[HMS Prince Regent (1820)|HMS ''Prince Regent'']] in December 1828<ref name=heath207/> and, having been promoted to [[rear-admiral]] on 22 July 1830,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue= 18709|date= 23 July 1830|page=1541}}</ref> he was appointed second-in-command of the [[Channel Fleet|Channel Squadron]], under [[Edward Codrington|Sir Edward Codrington]], in April 1831.<ref name=heath208>Heathcote, p. 208</ref> He was detached on an independent command on the Iberian [[Tagus|Tagus River]], hoisting his flag aboard the second-rate [[HMS Asia (1824)|HMS ''Asia'']], in September 1831 with a mission to protect British interests during the [[Liberal Wars|Portuguese Civil War]].<ref name=heath208/> He was advanced to [[Order of the Bath|Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath]] on 16 July 1834.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue= 19174|date= 18 July 1834|page=1353}}</ref>
Parker returned to England and briefly served as [[Second Sea Lord|Second Naval Lord]] in the [[Wellington caretaker ministry]] from August 1834 to December 1834.<ref name=sainty>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=16652|title='Lord High Admiral and Commissioners of the Admiralty 1660-1870', Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4: Admiralty Officials 1660-1870 |first=J C |last =Sainty|year=1975|pages=18–31|access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref> He became Second Sea Lord again, this time in the [[Second Melbourne ministry]], in April 1835.<ref name=sainty/>
==Senior command==
[[File:The Signing of the Treaty of Nanking.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The [[Treaty of Nanking]] being signed on board [[HMS Cornwallis (1813)|HMS ''Cornwallis'']], Parker's Flagship as [[East Indies and China Station|Commander-in-Chief, East Indies and China Station]]. Parker is seated at the front row (fifth from right), between interpreter [[Robert Thom (translator)|Robert Thom]] and General Hien Ling.]]
Parker left the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] to become Commander-in-chief of the [[East Indies and China Station]], hoisting his flag in the third-rate [[HMS Cornwallis (1813)|HMS ''Cornwallis'']], in June 1841.<ref name=heath208/> He provided naval support at the [[Battle of Amoy]] in August 1841, and having been promoted to [[vice-admiral]] on 23 November 1841,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue= 20044|date= 24 November 1841|page=3014}}</ref> also took part in the [[Battle of Ningpo]] in March 1842, the [[Battle of Woosung]] in June 1842 and the [[Battle of Chinkiang]] in July 1842 during the [[First Opium War]].<ref name=odnb/>
Parker was advanced to [[Order of the Bath|Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]] on 2 December 1842,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue= 20173|date=2 December 1842|page=3565}}</ref> given a substantial good-service pension on 26 April 1844 and awarded a [[baronet]]cy on 11 November 1844.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue= 20403|date=12 November 1844|page=3874}}</ref> He became [[Mediterranean Fleet|Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet]], hoisting his flag in the first-rate [[HMS Hibernia (1804)|HMS ''Hibernia'']] in February 1845.<ref name=heath208/> In May 1846, because of his knowledge of Portugal and its politics, he was given the additional command of the [[Channel Fleet|Channel Squadron]] while still remaining in charge of the Mediterranean Fleet.<ref name=heath208/> He was briefly (for a week) [[First Sea Lord|First Naval Lord]] in the [[First Russell ministry]] from 13 July 1846 to 24 July 1846<ref name=sainty/> but gave up the role due to ill health before returning to his command with the Mediterranean Fleet.<ref name=odnb/>
Promoted to full [[admiral]] on 29 April 1851,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue= 21205|date=2 May 1851|page=1162}}</ref> Parker became [[Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth]] in May 1854.<ref name=heath208/> He retired in May 1857, and, having been promoted to [[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]] on 27 April 1863,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue= 22730|date=28 April 1863|page=2246}}</ref> he died from [[bronchitis]] on 13 November 1866.<ref name=heath208/> He was buried in the churchyard at St John the Baptish Parish Church in [[Shenstone, Staffordshire|Shenstone]], and a monument to his memory was erected in [[Lichfield Cathedral]].<ref name=odnb/>
==Family==
In 1810 Parker married Frances Anne Biddulph; they had two sons and six daughters.<ref name=heath207/>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Sources==
* {{cite book|last=Heathcote |first=Tony |title=The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734–1995 |publisher=Pen & Sword Ltd |year=2002 |isbn=0-85052-835-6}}
==External links==
* {{cite wikisource |first=William Richard |last=O'Byrne |chapter=Parker, William |title=A Naval Biographical Dictionary |year=1849 |publisher=[[John Murray (publishing house)|John Murray]]}}
* {{Cite NIE|wstitle=Parker, William|year=1905 |short=x}}
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{{succession box | before=[[George Dundas (Royal Navy officer)|George Dundas]] | title=[[Second Sea Lord|Second Naval Lord]] | years=1834 | after=[[Sir John Beresford, 1st Baronet|Sir John Beresford, Bt]]}}
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{{succession box | before=[[Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet|Sir George Cockburn]] | title=[[First Sea Lord|First Naval Lord]] | years=13 July 1846 – 24 July 1846 | after=[[Charles Adam|Sir Charles Adam]]}}
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{{s-ttl
|title=[[Mediterranean Fleet|Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet]]
|years=24 July 1846 – 1852
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{{succession box | title=[[Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth]] | years=1854–1857 | before=[[John Ommanney|Sir John Ommanney]]| after=[[Barrington Reynolds|Sir Barrington Reynolds]]}}
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{{succession box | before=[[Francis Austen|Sir Francis Austen]] | title=[[Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom]] | years=1862–1863 | after=[[George Seymour (Royal Navy officer)|Sir George Seymour]]}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Parker Baronets|Baronet]]<br />'''(of Shenstone)''' | years=1844–1866}}
{{s-aft|after=[[William Biddulph Parker]]}}
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{{First Sea Lord}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, William, 1st Baronet}}
[[Category:1781 births]]
[[Category:1866 deaths]]
[[Category:Parker baronets|601]]
[[Category:Royal Navy personnel of the First Opium War]]
[[Category:Royal Navy personnel of the Napoleonic Wars]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Lords of the Admiralty]]
[[Category:People from Lichfield]]
[[Category:Royal Navy admirals of the fleet]]
[[Category:People from Shenstone, Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Staffordshire]]