Robert Roddam Robert Roddam ( 1719 – 31 March 1808 ) was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the War of the Austrian Succession , the Seven Years ' War , and the American War of Independence . He survived to see the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars , but was not actively employed during them . Robert Roddam was born to a gentry family in northern England , and entered the navy some years before the outbreak of the War of Jenkins ' Ear . He worked his way up through the ranks during this war , and the wider War of the Austrian Succession , distinguishing himself in several actions and gaining promotions which eventually led to his first command in 1746 . He impressed his superior officers , including George Anson and Sir Peter Warren , with his ability and enthusiasm , particularly during a daring attack on a French force at Cedeira . Appointed to larger and more powerful ships , Roddam continued to win praise , and spent some time in North American waters , where he became embroiled in local power struggles . Sent to the Caribbean shortly after the outbreak of the Seven Years ' War , Roddam encountered a powerful French squadron , and after a hard - fought struggle , was captured and taken prisoner . Released after a period of time spent imprisoned in poor conditions , Roddam was tried by court martial and honourably acquitted . He spent some time with the Channel Fleet watching the French coast , and was briefly employed as senior officer of one of the blockading squadrons , where he again showed his willingness to fight against heavy odds . He was employed briefly escorting convoys before the end of the war , after which he went ashore . Returning to active service during the Falklands Crisis in 1770 , he commanded ships until 1773 , and was again recalled to active service , this time with the outbreak of the American War of Independence . He was promoted to flag rank not long afterwards , and became commander - in - chief at the Nore . His final period of active service came during the Spanish armament of 1790 , when he was commander - in - chief at Portsmouth , and readied ships for the anticipated war with Spain . He continued to be promoted , reaching the rank of admiral of the red in 1805 . He inherited the family seat at Roddam Hall , but though he married three times , he died without issue in 1808 . Family and early life . Robert Roddam was born in 1719 at the family seat of Roddam Hall , in Northumberland . He was the second of three sons born to Edward Roddam , and his wife Jane . Roddam entered the navy in 1735 , joining the 20 - gun as a midshipman under Captain Drummond , with whom he served in the West Indies for the next five years . He then transferred in succession to the 80 - gun ships , and . During this time he served with Sir Chaloner Ogle and Sir Edward Vernon at the Battle of Cartagena de Indias , and the occupation of Cumberland Bay in 1741 . He distinguished himself during these encounters , and narrowly escaped being killed , when a cannonball shot off part of his coat . He was promoted to third lieutenant of the 60 - gun on 2 November 1741 , and served under her commander , Captain William Hervey . Roddam was present when " Superb " encountered a Spanish ship off the Irish coast during her voyage back to Britain . The Spanish ship , measuring 400 tons , was armed with 20 guns and manned by a crew of 60 , was captured , and later valued at £200 , 000 . Hervey ' s court martial . Hervey had gained a reputation for ill treatment of his officers , and on " Superb " s return to Plymouth in August 1742 , Hervey was tried by court martial on charges of ' cruelty , ill usage of his officers , and neglect of duty ' . In response , Hervey made accusations against his first lieutenant , John Hardy , who was also brought to court martial . Roddam gave evidence to support the charges against Hervey , who was found guilty and cashiered , while Hardy was honourably acquitted . " Monmouth " and ' witchcraft ' . With " Superb " paid off at Plymouth , Roddam was appointed third lieutenant of the 64 - gun on 7 September 1742 , serving under Captain Charles Wyndham . He was with " Monmouth " for the next four years , spent cruising off the French coast , and travelling as far south as the Canary Islands . While off Tenerife at midnight one day , Roddam , as master of the watch , was ordered to put the ship about . Three times he attempted it , but each time it proved impossible to do so , though there was no apparent obstacle to the manoeuvre . When relieved by Lieutenant Hamilton , Roddam related the strange behaviour of the ship , suggesting that some sort of witchcraft was responsible . In Hamilton ' s presence Roddam attempted to repeat the procedure , and for the fourth time the ship missed stays . At daybreak a strange sail was sighted ahead of " Monmouth " , which was chased down and captured . She proved to be a Spanish ship , valued at £100 , 000 , which would otherwise have been missed had " Monmouth " come about during the night . Roddam was advanced to second lieutenant on 14 July 1744 , during the captaincy of Henry Harrison , and two years later , on 7 June 1746 , was promoted to his first command , that of the 14 - gun sloop , which was nearing completion at Poole . First commands . " Viper " was launched at Poole on 11 June , and having got her ready for sea , Roddam sailed to join the Channel Fleet at Spithead , arriving on 26 July . Shortly after his arrival , the commander - in - chief , George Anson expressed a desire to stop a fleet , then at Plymouth , from sailing . The commanders of the various ships in the fleet argued against sending a ship , owing to the strong south - westerly wind , but Roddam , despite having a brand - new ship , not fully fitted and trialled at sea , offered to make the attempt . Impressed , Anson wrote to the Admiralty , and requested that Roddam be placed under his command . Anson was later superseded by Vice - Admiral Sir Peter Warren , who in mid - 1747 received word from a Bristol - based privateer that a fleet of some 30 ships were assembled at Cedeiro Bay , near Cape Ortegal , loaded with naval stores . The entrance to the anchorage was very narrow , and was defended by two shore batteries . With the odds against any attack , Sir Peter decided that there was little point in risking an assault . At this time Captain Henry Harrison , Roddam ' s old commander on " Monmouth " , suggested to Warren that Roddam make an attempt in " Viper " , adding that ' He would answer for that young man effecting all that human nature could perform ' . Impressed with Harrison ' s confidence , Warren ordered Roddam to make an attack . Roddam sailed that evening , and was in position the following morning . He stormed the first battery , carrying it and destroying all its guns , as well as capturing a Spanish privateer which emerged from the bay . He then entered the bay , burnt twenty - eight merchant ships and captured five of them , the most he could provide sailors to man from his small crew . The inhabitants of the town of Cedeira offered to surrender to Roddam on his terms , but were told that Roddam ' did not come there to aggrandize himself or crew by distressing harmless individuals , but only such as armed against Great Britain . . . ' On his return to England Roddam was embraced by Warren , who thanked him personally for his skill and gallantry . Warren wrote to the Admiralty strongly recommending Roddam for promotion , and as a result of his efforts , Roddam was advanced to post captain on 9 July 1747 , and given command of the 24 - gun . Meanwhile Roddam had , on his return to Britain after his action off Cedeira , been petitioned by the constituents of Portsmouth to represent them as their Member of Parliament . Roddam turned down their offer , and went on to serve at sea under Commodore Mitchell , cruising off the Dutch coast and in the North Sea . During this time he escorted Thomas Pelham - Holles , 1st Duke of Newcastle , who was on a diplomatic mission to the Dutch Republic . Roddam ' s time in the North Sea came to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Aix - la - Chapelle in 1748 , which brought the War of the Austrian Succession to a close . He retained command of " Greyhound " and went out to North America to serve under Admiral Charles Watson at Louisbourg , who based Roddam at New York for the next three years until 1751 . While at New York in 1750 , one of " Greyhound " s lieutenants accidentally shot a woman . A civil trial and court martial resulted , causing Roddam considerable trouble , and hinting at an anti - English mood among some sections of colonial society . Roddam was appointed to command the 50 - gun , which was then the Plymouth guardship , on 30 January 1753 . He was moved to the 50 - gun in 1755 . Seven Years ' War . Defending " Greenwich " . Roddam was ordered to the Caribbean shortly after the outbreak of the Seven Years ' War and departed for Jamaica on 23 January 1757 . While cruising off Cape Cabron , San Domingo on 18 March 1757 , mysterious sails were sighted , which were at first assumed to be a small fleet of merchant ships being conveyed by two frigates . They were in fact a squadron of French warships under Joseph de Bauffremont , consisting of the 84 - gun " Tonnant " , the 74 - gun ships " Diadème " and " Desauncene " , the 64 - gun ships " Éveillé " and " Inflexible " , the frigates " Sauvage " and " Brune " , and a 20 - gun storeship . The French were to windward , and Bauffremont , unsure of " Greenwich " s identity , sent one of his frigates to examine her . Realising that with the wind in the Frenchman ' s favour , he could not escape , Roddam attempted to lure the frigate towards him , hoping to capture her before the rest of the fleet could intervene , and then send her immediately to Rear - Admiral George Townshend , the commander at Jamaica , with news of the French movements . On assessing " Greenwich " s strength , the frigate kept close to the squadron , which then came up and attacked , action commencing at 9 a . m . when " Diadème " opened fire . For the next twelve hours " Greenwich " was constantly engaged with one or other of the French ships . Roddam still hoped to carry his plan of capturing one of them into execution , and assembled his men in an attempt to board the 64 - gun " Éveillé " , but several of her consorts bore up and opened fire , damaging " Greenwich " s rigging and leaving her unmanageable . Roddam gathered his officers together , and told them that though they had no hope of winning against such a superior force , if any man could point out the admiral ' s flagship , he hoped to engage her and fight on for another hour or two . His officers , among whom was Lieutenant James Wallace , pledged to follow their captain , but pointed out that they had done all in their power to defend their ship . At 9 . 30 p . m . , Roddam agreed to surrender his ship , as further resistance would only cause further casualties among his men . The colours were then struck to " Éveillé " , upon which her commander demanded Roddam come aboard his ship . Roddam refused , answering that if he was wanted on the French ship , a boat must be sent for him , or else he would rehoist the colours and defend the ship until she sank . A lieutenant was then sent over in a boat from the French ship , and Roddam came aboard . The French commander , Captain Merville , gave Roddam the bedding of the ordinary ship ' s company and a dirty rug , and did not allow him to change his clothes . " Greenwich " was ransacked , and the crew left unfed . Roddam protested , and demanded to be taken to see Bauffremont . After Roddam had expressed his grievances , Bauffremont asked Roddam why he had refused to come to present his surrender in his own boat . Roddam replied that he would have considered it a disgrace , and that his sword would have been delivered through the body of the person demanding it , had it happened to him . Captivity . Roddam and his men were taken to Hispaniola and imprisoned there . At first Roddam was allowed to visit his men everyday , but after some time , this was refused . His men became concerned that he had been murdered , and on not getting a satisfactory answer to their queries , seized their guards and took up arms . The prison governor sent for Roddam and asked him to restore order among his men , which Roddam only agreed to do once he had received promises of better treatment for them . Their treatment improved , and after two months in prison the men were paroled back to Jamaica . Court martial . On arriving back at Jamaica Roddam was tried by court martial for the loss of his ship . The court martial was held aboard on 14 July 1757 . After hearing evidence from the crew , the court honourably acquitted him , and Roddam had the minutes printed at Kingston for circulation . He had hoped for similar success to the minutes printed from Admiral Sir John Byng ' s court martial , which had been held earlier that year , but found they did not sell as well as he had expected . He was told by the printer that ‘ if you had been condemned to be shot , your trial would have sold as well ; but the public take no interest in an honourable acquittal ’ . Return to service . Roddam returned to England aboard a packet , and had to work to save the ship when the master pressed on too much sail in a gale , and again when a mysterious sail appeared to be attempting to catch the packet . Roddam was exchanged shortly after his arrival in England , and went out as a passenger aboard to join the fleet off Ushant under Sir Edward Hawke . Hawke gave him command of the 50 - gun on 7 December 1759 . After taking her to Plymouth to fit her out , he was sent by Hawke to cruise off Brest , watching the French fleet there in company with , under Captain Augustus Hervey , and HMS " Montagu " under Captain Joshua Rowley . Three French warships came out , which the British ships chased back under the guns of the shore batteries , and ran one of them ashore . Off Belle Île . Having carried this out , Roddam was sent to relieve Robert Duff , who was cruising off Belle Île . To do so he sailed " Colchester " through Le Ras , a narrow channel separating the Saints from the mainland , and entered Audierne Bay , and became the first known English ship to do so . On arriving he received orders to watch a fleet of transport ships , with an escort of 16 frigates , moored there , believed to be preparing to carry troops to invade Ireland . Lacking sufficient ships to engage the frigates , Roddam gave orders that if possible the French were to be engaged so as to target the transport ships and shoot away their masts , but to avoid the frigates . When questioned by his subordinates that ordering his ships not to engage would leave them open to accusations of cowardice , Roddam replied that since he gave the order , only he could be accused , and he would take " Colchester " and engage all the frigates single - handedly , trusting that ' some of them would be sent to the bottom . ' Before long Commodore John Reynolds arrived aboard and superseded Roddam as senior officer . Reynolds assessed the possibility of attacking the convoy lying in the river , but was advised by his captains that it could not be done . Roddam requested permission to try anyway , as " Colchester " was ' an old man of war , not worth much , and the loss of her would be trifling for the good of the service . ' Reynolds forbade Roddam from trying , whereupon Roddam suggested that Reynolds cruise off one of the channels of Belle Île , while Roddam covered the other . Reynolds agreed to this , but that night the French were able to elude Reynolds , and escaped into the river Vans . On Duff ' s return aboard to resume command of the squadron , and finding " Colchester " in need of repairs , Roddam was sent back to Plymouth , to refit and re - provision . Convoy work . Roddam returned to Plymouth , with " Colchester " leaking badly , but the port admiral , Commodore Hanaway , merely sent some caulkers on board , and sent her back to sea to join Sir Edward Hawke off Vans with a convoy . On joining the fleet , Hawke asked who had sent him a ship in such poor condition , and sent Roddam back to Plymouth to properly refit . Roddam was then sent to Saint Helena , with Captain Jeekill ' s 60 - gun under his orders , to bring home the East Indies convoy . They were joined for their return voyage by Sir George Pocock ' s squadron . As the squadron and the convoy passed the Isles of Scilly , Roddam became concerned that they were too close to the land , and gave the signal to tack . Roddam had a second occasion to warn the convoy , when off Dover . Pocock gave the order to lie - to , but Roddam , seeing that some of the convoy were in danger of running onto South Foreland , signalled for the ships to bear away to the Downs . In both instances Pocock deferred to Roddam ' s judgement , and thanked him for his efforts . " Colchester " was then ordered to Portsmouth , and on peace being declared , went ashore . Falklands crisis and American War of Independence . Roddam was recalled to active service during the Falklands Crisis in 1770 , with an appointment to command the 74 - gun on 7 December . The crisis died down without breaking into open conflict , and Roddam remained in command of " Lenox " , which was used as the Portsmouth guardship , until 19 December 1773 , when he was relieved by Captain Matthew Moor . With the outbreak of the American War of Independence Roddam again returned to active service , taking command of the 74 - gun at Chatham on 17 March 1777 , and took her to Spithead . Here he was to command her as one of 12 ships sent to the Mediterranean , but he received his promotion to rear - admiral of the white on 23 January 1778 and was succeeded as captain of " Cornwall " by Captain Timothy Edwards . Roddam then became commander - in - chief at the Nore . He held the command for the remainder of the war , being promoted to vice - admiral of the blue on 19 March 1779 and vice - admiral of the white on 26 September 1780 . He was without active employment for a time after the end of the war , but was promoted to vice - admiral of the red on 24 September 1787 , and on 20 April 1789 he became Commander - in - Chief at Portsmouth . Later years . He was commander there for three years , flying his flag aboard the 84 - gun HMS " Royal William " during the Spanish armament in 1790 . During the crisis he received orders from the Admiralty to prepare the guardships for sea . He had them fitted and ready for manning within five days , and on being ordered to fit a further five ships for sea , completed the task in fourteen days . His rapid response attracted French attention , who reported in their newspapers that ' British ships of war [ have ] sprung up complete like mushrooms . ' With the passing of the crisis Roddam struck his flag in 1792 . With the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars Roddam received a promotion to admiral of the blue on 1 February 1793 . He was promoted to admiral of the white on 12 April 1794 , and admiral of the red on 9 November 1805 . Family and personal life . Roddam married three times in his life . His first marriage was to Lucy Mary Clinton , the daughter of George Clinton , the governor of New York at the time of Roddam ' s posting there , on 24 April 1749 . Lucy died on 9 December 1750 . He then married Alithea Calder , the daughter of Sir James Calder , and a sister of Robert Calder , who would become an admiral in the wars with France , in March 1775 . Alithea died on 21 July 1799 , with Roddam marrying a third time , this time to a Miss Harrison , though no details are known . None of Roddam ' s marriages produced any children , and he left his estates to his distant relative William Spencer Stanhope , of Cannon Hall , the great - grandson of his first cousin Mary Roddam , wife of Edward Collingwood , and cousin to Admiral Lord Collingwood . Robert Roddam had succeeded to the family estates in 1776 , on the death without issue of his elder brother Edward Roddam , and settled at the family seat of Roddam Hall where he had been born . He appears to have spent his time improving the house and grounds , and was probably responsible for adding the late eighteenth - century wings to the hall . He also planted an avenue of trees , which are still extant today , named on Ordnance Survey maps as Admiral ' s Avenue , which leads to Boat Wood . Admiral Robert Roddam died at Morpeth on 31 March 1808 . His biographer , P . K . Crimmin , described him as a ' brave and competent sailor and a diligent administrator ' , but noted that he was ' not interested in politics or in a political route to professional advancement . ' Certain incidents during his career hinted to Crimmin of a ' certain naïvety towards the non - naval world ' , and he noted that Roddam ' s ' closest connections and friendships were service ones . ' Notes . a . Hervey ' s actions in the Caribbean had , as early as October 1740 , led the port admiral to recommend that he be relieved of command , but the Admiralty declined to act . b . The controversy eventually involved a number of colonial leaders , including Chief Justice James DeLancey , Governor George Clinton , who was also Roddam ' s father - in - law , and John Russell , 4th Duke of Bedford , the Secretary of State for the Southern Department . Part of the debate revolved around the rights of the civil authorities to intervene in the military ' s judicial process , with Clinton criticising DeLancey ' s attempts to extend his authority at the expense of military discipline . c . " Greenwich " enjoyed only a brief career with the French . She was taken into their service under Captain Foucault , and saw action with Guy François de Coetnempren , comte de Kersaint ' s squadron at the indecisive Battle of Cap - Français on 21 October 1757 . She survived the action and escorted a convoy to France , but was wrecked in a gale as she neared the French coast on 1 January 1758 .