Thomas Mackenzie ( Royal Navy officer ) Admiral Thomas Mackenzie ( 1753 – 20 September 1813 ) was a prominent British Royal Navy officer of the late eighteenth century . Mackenzie ' s career , while successful , was blighted by a series of controversies that limited his opportunities and command , resulting in his placement in reserve for the last 19 years of his career . During his early service , Mackenzie served at a number of engagements in the American Revolutionary War and advanced rapidly , but he was caught during service in the Indian Ocean in the midst of a disagreement between two senior officers and as a result was placed in reserve at the end of the war . At the start of the French Revolutionary Wars ten years later Mackenzie was restored to service , and commanded the ship of the line HMS " Gibraltar " at the Glorious First of June . Mackenzie was again involved in a major dispute in the aftermath of the battle over credit for the victory , and the result was that he never served at sea again . Life . Thomas Mackenzie was born in 1753 , the son of Vice - Admiral George Mackenzie . At a young age , Thomas joined the frigate HMS " Montreal " and in 1771 passed the lieutenants exam and joined the sloop HMS " Tryal " . He continued to rise in rank , and in 1776 at the start of the American Revolutionary War he was promoted to post captain for his services at the Battle of Quebec . He took command of the ship HMS " Ariel " , but was captured with his vessel by the French frigate " Amazone " on 10 September 1779 < ADM 1 / 5315 court - martial 23 Feb 1780 > near Charlestown . Released in Cadiz the following year , Mackenzie returned to Britain , was cleared at a court martial and given command of the frigate HMS " Active " . " Active " was attached to the squadron under Commodore George Johnstone sent to the Cape of Good Hope in 1781 , but the force was intercepted at Porto Praya on St Jago by a French squadron . The ensuing Battle of Porto Praya was inconclusive , but the French were able to reinforce the Cape before the British could attack , making an invasion impossible . Continuing westwards , " Active " joined a squadron under Vice - Admiral Edward Hughes and was engaged in operations on the Malabar coast and against the Dutch city of Negapatam . In 1782 he as ordered by the council at Calcutta to escort a ship pass the Hoogly River which was watched by a French privateer . This diversion caused him to miss the attack on Trincomalee and invoked Hughes ' anger , despite Lord Macartney ' s advocacy of Mackenzie ' s actions . When peace came the following year , Mackenzie was ordered back to Britain and placed in reserve . Mackenzie did not serve again until 1793 , when the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars necessitated the employment of experienced seamen . Taking command of the ship of the line HMS " Gibraltar " , Mackenzie joined the Channel Fleet under Lord Howe . During the Atlantic campaign of May 1794 , " Gibraltar " was engaged at the actions on 28 and 29 May and again at the Glorious First of June , but failed to distinguish herself at any of the engagements . Mackenzie was consequently left off the list of officer commended for their service and was furious at his omission , as were many of the captains whose names were not included . The resulting furore was highly divisive in the Navy , and Mackenzie was never employed again , despite his promotion to rear - admiral three days later . He remained in reserve , continuing to gain in rank but never participating at sea until his death in 1813 , childless at age 60 .