Sir Robert Kingsmill , 1st Baronet Sir Robert Brice Kingsmill , 1st Baronet ( 1730 – 23 November 1805 ) was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the Seven Years ' War , the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars in a career that spanned nearly 60 years . Kingsmill was a contemporary and close friend of Lord Nelson , and was one of the prominent Royal Navy admirals of his time referred to as " The Conquerors of the Seas , " illustrated in Piercy Roberts ' 1800 engraving . He served with Rodney in the West Indies , where he was wounded in battle , and with Keppel at the Battle of Ushant . He took the time to embark on a career in politics as a Member of Parliament , giving this up several times to resume his service in the Navy when war broke out . Kingsmill rose to flag rank by the time of the outbreak of war with revolutionary France in 1793 . As the naval commander - in - chief on the coast of Ireland , he repelled several attempts by the French to invade Ireland and foment insurrection . Kingsmill died on 23 November 1805 at Sydmonton Court as a baronet and with the rank of Admiral of the Blue . Family and early life . He was born in Belfast as Robert Brice , the son of Captain Charles Brice , of Castle Chichester , and his wife Jane . He followed his father into the navy , joining the 14 - gun sloop as an able seaman on 29 October 1746 . He remained with the " Speedwell " for several years , being promoted to midshipman on 3 October 1748 , and having passed his lieutenant ' s examination on 5 July 1754 , received his commission on 29 April 1756 . The outbreak of the Seven Years ' War offered further opportunities for advancement , and in February 1761 he was promoted to master and commander of the sloop . His capture of the 10 - gun French privateer " Sultan " led to the confirmation of his rank on 3 July , and he soon received an appointment to the bomb vessel . It was during this period that he was recalled and placed in command of one of the yachts preparing to carry Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg - Strelitz and her suite to England to marry King George III . The voyage was hampered by fierce storms , but all of the yachts and their naval escorts arrived safely . He then returned to the " Basilisk " and sailed to the West Indies with Rear - Admiral George Rodney ' s fleet . Brice assisted with the assaults on Martinique and St Lucia , during which he was wounded . Brice ' s rewards for his good services were a promotion to post - captain on 26 May 1762 , and an appointment to command the 28 - gun sixth rate . He was sent back to the West Indies and remained there until the end of the Seven Years ' War in 1764 , upon which he returned to England . He married Elizabeth Corry , heiress to the Kingsmill estates at Sydmonton Court in Hampshire , at some point in 1766 . Her uncle had died on 8 January 1766 , and after assuming the surname Kingsmill by Act of Parliament , he succeeded to the estates . He retired from active naval service and spent the years of peace enjoying his newly acquired wealth and status . Active service and political career . The outbreak of war with France in 1778 during the American War of Independence led to his return to active service . He accepted command of the 64 - gun and formed part of Admiral Augustus Keppel ' s fleet at the Battle of Ushant on 27 July 1778 . The indecisive result and subsequent controversies and intrigues surrounding the conduct of the officers involved redounded against Kingsmill . He was offered service in the West Indies , but turned it down by resigning his command . Kingsmill took advantage of this break from active service to enter politics . He was elected as Member of Parliament for Yarmouth , on the Isle of Wight , but only held the seat for a year . His dabbling in politics brought him more enemies in high positions , and Kingsmill was destined to remain without a ship until April 1782 , when he took over the newly refitted 74 - gun third rate . Kingsmill was too late to join Admiral Lord Howe ' s expedition to relieve Gibraltar , and was instead offered command of a reinforcement squadron that was being prepared to sail to the East Indies . He accepted the appointment , which would see him command a squadron consisting of the " Elizabeth " , the 74 - gun , the 64 - gun and the 32 - gun . His force was finally ready to put to sea by 17 January 1783 , but while sailing through the Bay of Biscay they encountered heavy gales , and were eventually forced back to Spithead , having suffered considerable damage . Before Kingsmill could attend to repairs he learnt that the Treaty of Paris had been signed and that the war was over . There would be no reinforcement squadron for the East Indies . The " Elizabeth " was to be retained in commission as a guard ship however , and Kingsmill accepted the three year posting as her commander . He took this opportunity to resume his parliamentary career , being elected to the constituency of Tregony on 5 April 1784 , holding the seat until 1790 . He does not appear to have ever spoken in parliament , but records show that he voted in favour of William Pitt over his 1785 Reform Bill , against him during the Regency crises of 1788 and 1789 , and against the Duke of Richmond ' s fortification plans in 1786 . The Nootka Crisis in 1790 brought an end to his career in politics , as Kingsmill returned to active duty in command of the 90 - gun . The crisis passed without breaking into open war , and Kingsmill paid off the " Duke " and once again entered semi - retirement . In October 1790 he was selected to serve as a member of the panel of officers at the court - martial concerning the mutiny and loss of . As contemporaries in the service , Sir Robert and Horatio Nelson developed a close friendship that lasted until Nelson ' s death at Trafalgar on 21 October 1805 . French Revolutionary Wars . The outbreak of war with revolutionary France led to a general promotion of Royal Navy officers on 1 February 1793 . Kingsmill was advanced to Rear - Admiral of the White and placed in command of the Irish station , despite having comparatively little experience of command . The forces at his disposal consisted of two ships of the line , seven frigates and four smaller vessels , which he quickly put to use combating the swarms of enemy cruisers that operated in these waters . He was advanced to Vice - Admiral of the White on 4 July 1794 , and continued to grow rich off the spoils of captured privateers and French supply ships . He was still on station in Cork in 1796 and played a role in the defeat of the French " Expédition d ' Irlande " that year . The main French force under Admiral Morard de Galles sailed from Brest , evading the blockading fleet under Admiral Sir John Colpoys and headed for Ireland to land troops to support an anticipated rising of the United Irishmen . Kingsmill knew his forces were too few to risk an open engagement , but shadowed the French fleet , which were eventually dispersed by gales , and was able to harry their retreat back to France . The risk to Ireland and the importance of Kingsmill ' s squadron demonstrated , the Admiralty hurried to increase his supplies and resources . He was ready for the French when they made another attempt in May 1798 , but the crushing of the main force by Sir John Borlase Warren at the Battle of Tory Island put a decisive end to the threat . Kingsmill continued to run the station , being promoted to Admiral of the Blue on 14 February 1799 . He had asked the First Lord of the Admiralty , Earl Spencer as early as February 1798 for permission to retire , and this request was finally granted towards the end of 1800 . This was granted , and he duly stepped down , being succeeded by Sir Alan Gardner . Kingsmill was rewarded on 24 November 1800 with a baronetcy as a gesture of appreciation from King George III for his long years of service . He spent his last years in retirement , dying at Sydmonton Court , Kingsclere , Hampshire on 23 November 1805 at the age of 75 . By then he had served the Navy for nearly 60 years , in a career that spanned four major wars . He died without issue , the baronetcy passing to his nephew , Robert Kingsmill .