Edward Foote Vice - Admiral Sir Edward James Foote , KCB ( 20 April 1767 – 23 May 1833 ) was a prominent Royal Navy officer during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries . He served on a number of ships and at several actions , but is best known for becoming caught up in the aftermath of the collapse of the Parthenopean Republic at Naples in 1799 . Foote had already signed a convention with rebel leaders assuring their safety when he was overruled by Lord Nelson . As a result most of the rebels , including women , were executed . Nelson was heavily criticised for his role in the executions , but Foote failed to protest the decision until many years later , once Nelson was dead . This overshadowed his career and he did not serve in a position of responsibility again . He commanded the royal yacht during most of the Napoleonic Wars , and although he was knighted and continued to rise through the ranks post - war he did not see active service . He died in 1833 in Southampton . Life . Edward Foote was born in 1767 in Bishopsbourne , the son of Francis Hender Foote , a barrister turned priest , and his wife Catherine " neé " Mann . His maternal uncle was Horatio Mann , a noted politician and cricketer . In 1779 , Foote joined the Royal Navy Academy in Portsmouth and the following year was commissioned aboard during the American Revolutionary War . Later in 1780 , Foote transferred from " Dublin " to the frigate and in 1781 served at the Battle of Dogger Bank against the Dutch . In the aftermath of the battle he moved again , joining the frigate under Captain James Gambier and observing the Battle of the Saintes in April 1782 . Following the end of the war in 1783 , Foote served on several ships as a lieutenant before joining under Captain William Cornwallis in the East Indies in 1788 . While stationed in the East Indies , Foote was promoted to commander and took over the sloop , returning to Europe in 1792 in command of . In June 1794 , Foote was promoted to post captain and was given the frigate . " Niger " served with the Channel Fleet until 1796 , when it sailed to join the Mediterranean Fleet under Vice - Admiral Sir John Jervis . " Niger " was one of the fleet scouts at the Battle of Cape St . Vincent in February 1797 and returned to Britain the following year . After a period attending King George III at Weymouth , " Niger " returned to Spithead and Foote , by royal request , was transferred to the larger frigate . Once again attached to the Mediterranean Fleet , " Seahorse " was one of the ships sent to reinforce the fleet under Rear - Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson prior to the Battle of the Nile . Foote was unable to find Nelson before the battle , but did encounter and capture the French frigate " Sensible " at the Action of 27 June 1798 . After the battle of the Nile , " Seahorse " was attached to the blockade of Alexandria before transferring to Naples early in 1799 . A French invasion of the Kingdom of Naples had overthrown the Neapolitan government and erected the Parthenopean Republic instead , run by disaffected Neapolitans . On 22 June , under pressure from Russian and Turkish forces , the rebels surrendered and Foote , as the senior British officer present signed a treaty promising that the rebels could have free passage to France if they handed over the city and its forts without a fight . However , once the rebels had embarked ships ready for transport , Nelson arrived and repudiated the treaty . The rebels were handed over to King Ferdinand IV and mass executions followed . In breaking the treaty , Nelson broke Foote ' s word and the admiral was heavily criticised in Britain for his actions . Foote however failed to protest at his commanding officer ' s decision and remained a faithful follower of Nelson . " Seahorse " subsequently returned to Britain and then back to the Mediterranean , where Foote helped transport troops and General Ralph Abercromby for the 1801 invasion of Egypt . At the Peace of Amiens , he was again summoned by royal request and became captain of King George III ' s royal yacht " Princess Augusta " . Foote remained in command of the royal yacht until 1812 , when he was promoted to rear - admiral . Failing to secure an active deployment , Foote was briefly second in command at Portsmouth in 1814 but in 1815 entered semi - retirement at the end of the war . Following Nelson ' s death in 1805 , Foote had finally spoken out about the situation at Naples , criticising Nelson heavily for his conduct . Foote subsequently retired to his home near Southampton , and although he continued to rise through ranks , becoming a vice - admiral in 1821 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1831 , he did not serve at sea again . He was married twice and had a number of children from both marriages . He died in May 1833 at his home .