Charles Phipps ( Royal Navy officer ) Hon . Charles Phipps ( 10 December 1753 – 20 October 1786 ) was an officer in the Royal Navy . He served during the American War of Independence , seeing action in a number of battles and engagements . He also went on to have a career in Parliament . Born into a family with naval and parliamentary connections , Phipps integrated them both into a short career . He promoted to his first commands during the American War of Independence , commanding a range of small ships off the North American coast and being active against American shipping . He spent the later part of the wars in European waters , commanding frigates , and supporting the fleets . He took part in the first relief of Gibraltar in 1781 , and the second in 1782 . By then he was captain of a 74 - gun ship of the line . He retired ashore after the war , and having embarked on a political career , represented both UK Parliament constituency and UK Parliament constituency before his death at a relatively young age , in 1786 . Family and early life . Charles Phipps was born on 10 December 1753 , the second son of Constantine Phipps , 1st Baron Mulgrave and his wife Lepell . His elder brother , Constantine , and his younger brother , Henry , both went on to be politicians , with Constantine also serving as a naval officer . Charles Phipps also entered the navy , and after seeing some service , was promoted to lieutenant on 19 January 1771 . He is first recorded as having commissioned the fireship HMS " Strombolo " in February 1776 , and having sailed for North America in May that year . The American War of Independence was being fought at this time , and after brief service on the station , Phipps was promoted to post - captain on 1 August 1776 . His first command at this level was to temporarily take over the 20 - gun , succeeding her regular captain , George Elphinstone , from August that year . Phipps moved to take command of the 20 - gun on 21 May 1777 , remaining her captain into 1778 . " Camilla " remained off the North American coast during this time , and Phipps ' s next command , the 20 - gun was also based on the North American station . Phipps commissioned her in September 1778 and was active against American shipping , capturing the privateer " New Broom " on 22 October 1778 . Phipps was replaced as captain in February 1779 by Thomas Mackenzie , and in April that year commissioned the 32 - gun . " Ambuscade " was active in European waters , and Phipps enjoyed successes against French privateers , capturing the " Prince de Montbarry " on 28 June , and the 16 - gun " Hélène " on 23 July 1779 . Phipps took part in the relief of Guernsey in September 1779 , and then served in John Reynold ' s squadron in October . From there he moved to the Channel Fleet in 1780 , which was then commanded by Sir Francis Geary , and on 4 July that year captured the privateer " Eleonore " . Later commands . Phipps was then given command of the newly captured 36 - gun in July 1780 . " Monsieur " completed fitting out at Portsmouth in October 1780 , and Phipps soon scored his first success with her , capturing the 20 - gun " Chevreuil " on 15 December . He next commanded her at the relief of Gibraltar in 1781 with George Darby ' s fleet , and on 10 October that year assisted in capturing the French 22 - gun ship " Jason " off Cape Clear . His final command was the 74 - gun , which he took over in March 1782 . " Berwick " served as part of Lord Howe ' s fleet for the third and final relief of Gibraltar in late 1782 , and was in action at the Battle of Cape Spartel on 20 October 1782 . She then sailed to the West Indies with Sir Richard Hughes ' s fleet , and arrived there in December . " Berwick " was paid off in June 1783 , after the end of the American War of Independence , and Phipps went ashore , apparently having no further seagoing commands . Political career . Phipps had embarked on a political career during the American War of Independence , and had been elected MP for UK Parliament constituency on 27 February 1779 , succeeding another naval officer , Sir Hugh Palliser . Phipps owed his election to the Admiralty interest in the constituency , and Palliser ' s support . Like his brother , Constantine , Charles was initially a supporter of the North Ministry , but his naval duties often kept him away from parliament . Constantine and Charles both abandoned the North Ministry after 1784 , supporting William Pitt the Younger , but though Charles contested Scarborough again in 1784 , he was defeated . Another seat was found for him in June 1784 , and he was elected to UK Parliament constituency , which he represented until his death . Phipps died unmarried at the family seat , Mulgrave Castle , Yorkshire , on 20 October 1786 . Notes . a . " Strombolo " was a former 14 - gun sloop , launched in 1746 as HMS " Grampus " . She was converted to a fireship in 1762 and was renamed in 1771 .