page_title: Parker baronets
hierarchical_section_title: Parker baronets
caption_attribution_description: Caption from the museum's website A three-quarter-length portrait to right wearing vice-admiral's undress uniform 1783–87 and a tie wig. His right hand is on his sword, which is not buckled on, and his left is extended towards the action in the background, which on the left shows the smoke of the Battle of the Dogger Bank, 1781, with Parker's vice-admiral's flag just discernible, while on the right is the sunken 'Hollandia', 64 guns, with his son's frigate the 'Latona', 38 guns, standing by the wreck. (This son, also Hyde, is now best known as Nelson's elderly superior at the Battle of Copenhagen.) Parker entered the Navy at the age of 24 as an able seaman and sailed under Commodore Anson on his circumnavigation of the world, 1740–44. In 1762 when in command of the 'Grafton', 70 guns, in the East Indies, he captured a Spanish treasure ship. As flag officer at the Leeward Islands in 1779 he had a considerable success in intercepting French storeships and privateers. In 1781 he commanded a squadron in the North Sea which intercepted a Dutch convoy of about equal force, which led to the fierce but indecisive Dogger Bank action. On his return Parker blamed Lord Sandwich for the small number and unseaworthiness of his ships. The King tried to pacify Parker and persuaded him to retain his command, to which he replied 'Sire, you have need of younger men and newer ships'. He went as Commander-in-Chief to the East Indies in 1782 but his flagship, the 'Cato', 50 guns, disappeared after touching at Rio de Janeiro on the way out and her fate can only be conjectured. Sittings for the portrait were given in January and June 1782. The artist was an important portrait painter of the late-18th century, generally ranked third after Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough. He was in Paris in 1764 and in 1773 moved to Italy for two years, where he became interested in history paintings in the elevated and élitist 'Grand Manner'. This developed into improving upon nature and the pursuit of perfect form. At its best his work demonstrated refinement, sensitivity and elegance, although it could also be repetitive and monotonous. As a society painter he typified late-18th-century English artists who, compelled by the conditions of patronage to spend their time in producing portraits, could only aspire to imaginative and ideal painting. By 1780 Romney's portraits, according to Horace Walpole, were 'in great vogue' and he worked in an increasingly neo-classical style.
context_page_description: There have been seven baronetcies created for persons with the surname Parker, three in the Baronetage of England, two in the Baronetage of Great Britain and two in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. Two of the creations are extant as of 2008. Though none of the different families of baronets were related, several supplied a number of flag officers to the Royal Navy.
  The Parker, later Parker-a-Morley-Long Baronetcy, of Arwaton in the County of Suffolk, was created in the Baronetage of England on 16 July 1661 for Philip Parker, Member of Parliament for Harwich and Sandwich. His grandson, the third Baronet, also represented Harwich in the House of Commons. He assumed the additional surnames of a-Morley-Long. The title became extinct on his death in 1741.
  The Parker Baronetcy, of Ratton in the County of Sussex, was created in the Baronetage of England on 22 May 1674 for Robert Parker, Member of Parliament for Hastings. The second Baronet was Member of Parliament for Sussex. The title became extinct in 1750, upon the death of the first Baronet's grandson, the third Baronet.
context_section_description: There have been seven baronetcies created for persons with the surname Parker, three in the Baronetage of England, two in the Baronetage of Great Britain and two in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. Two of the creations are extant as of 2008. Though none of the different families of baronets were related, several supplied a number of flag officers to the Royal Navy.
  The Parker, later Parker-a-Morley-Long  Baronetcy, of Arwaton in the County of Suffolk, was created in the Baronetage of England on 16 July 1661 for Philip Parker, Member of Parliament for Harwich and Sandwich. His grandson, the third Baronet, also represented Harwich in the House of Commons. He assumed the additional surnames of a-Morley-Long. The title became extinct on his death in 1741.
  The Parker Baronetcy, of Ratton in the County of Sussex, was created in the Baronetage of England on 22 May 1674 for  Robert Parker, Member of Parliament for Hastings. The second Baronet was Member of Parliament for Sussex. The title became extinct in 1750, upon the death of the first Baronet's grandson, the third Baronet.
  The Parker Baronetcy, of Melford Hall in the County of Suffolk, was created in the Baronetage of England on 1 July 1681 for Hugh Parker, an alderman of London. On his death in 1697 the baronetcy descended by special remainder to his nephew, Henry Parker, then of Honington Hall near Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire, Member of Parliament for Evesham and Aylesbury. He married Margaret, daughter and heir of Alexander Hyde, Bishop of Salisbury, first cousin of Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon. The most famous member of the family was the naval commander Sir Hyde Parker, the fifth Baronet. His second son was Admiral Sir Hyde Parker. He was the father of the naval commander Admiral Hyde Parker and of John Boteler Parker, a Major-General in the British Army. The family seat is Melford Hall, Long Melford, Suffolk.
  The Parker Baronetcy, of Bassingbourn in the County of Essex, was created in the Baronetage of Great Britain on 13 January 1783 for Sir Peter Parker, also an eminent naval officer, though unrelated to the Parker family of Melford Hall. He was known for his service in the American Revolution. His grandson, Charles, the fifth Baronet, was also an Admiral in the Royal Navy. The title became extinct on his death in 1869.
  The Parker Baronetcy, of Harburn in the County of Warwick, was created in the Baronetage of Great Britain on 24 July 1797 for William Parker for his service at the Battle of Cape St Vincent. Though unrelated to the previous two, he also enjoyed a long naval career, retiring as a Vice-Admiral. The baronetcy became extinct on the death of the sixth Baronet in 1903.
  The Parker Baronetcy, of Shenstone Lodge in the County of Stafford, was created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 18 December 1844 for Sir William Parker, who like his distant relative  the Earl of Macclesfield, was a descendant of the Parker family of Park Hall, Claverswall, Staffordshire  but unrelated to the other baronets. He, too, was a naval officer, and commanded British naval forces in China in the First Opium War. The third Baronet, William, was an Olympic medallist. George Parker, second son of the first Baronet, was an Admiral in the Royal Navy. The Right Honourable Sir Thomas Parker, grandfather of the first Baronet, was Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer.
  The Parker Baronetcy, of Carlton House Terrace in the County of London, was created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 21 June 1915 for Gilbert Parker, a Member of Parliament and novelist. The title became extinct upon his death in 1932.
caption: Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, 
   5th Baronet, of Melford Hall
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