Sir Francis Geary , 1st Baronet Sir Francis Geary , 1st Baronet ( 1709 – 7 February 1796 ) was an officer of the Royal Navy . He served during the War of the Austrian Succession , the Seven Years ' War , and the American War of Independence , eventually rising to the rank of Admiral . Family and early life . Geary was born in 1709 to a family that resided at Aberystwyth in Ceredigion but that moved to England shortly after his birth . He spent his early years at Areall Magna , near Wellington , Shropshire , and later at Cheddington , Buckinghamshire . Before joining the navy , he was a noted bellringer , a member of the Ancient Society of College Youths , he participated in several early , record - breaking peals at St Bride ' s Church , Fleet Street , London . He entered the navy in 1727 , serving as a volunteer aboard HMS " Revenge " . He sailed with " Revenge " into the Baltic , as part of a squadron under Admiral Sir John Norris . On her return to Britain " Revenge " was reassigned to sail with a fleet under Sir Charles Wager that was despatched to relieve Gibraltar . Geary spent the next fifteen years with the navy gradually progressing to midshipman , and then lieutenant . First commands . Geary was promoted to command on 30 June 1742 . He cruised off Madeira , capturing a Spanish privateer , and capturing and burning a Spanish armed ship . On 10 February 1743 he came across the Spanish chartered French merchant " Pierre Joseph " . The " Pierre Joseph " was carrying a valuable cargo of silver , cochineal , indigo , hides and other goods . Geary boarded the vessel and took her as a prize . Geary then moved to command in early 1744 , but was assigned to command on 17 February . He quickly departed on a cruise in company with , and on 20 February the two ships came across the French frigate " Elephant " , capturing her after a short battle . Geary took part in the capture of eight French merchants later in 1744 , and took part in a court - martial aboard in February 1745 . He was then assigned to go to Louisbourg and support Commodore Peter Warren ' s assault on the fortress . He briefly participated , but was ordered home with despatches and so did not receive a share of the rewards . Geary had by now secured a powerful patron , John Russell , 4th Duke of Bedford , who was then the First Lord of the Admiralty , and through Russell ' s actions , Geary was appointed to command the 74 - gun . He was sent to reinforce Rear - Admiral Edward Hawke in the Bay of Biscay in 1747 , and spent the rest of the war there , returning in 1748 . He was then promoted to Commodore and appointed Commander - in - Chief of the squadron in the Medway , but relinquished the command in September that year . He married Mary Bartholomew that month and spent the peace in quiet retirement . He had purchased the estate of Polesden Lacey in 1747 . Return to service . The increase of tensions prior to the outbreak of the Seven Years ' War led to Geary ' s return to service in 1755 . He was assigned to the 70 - gun , and sailed to North America with Admiral Edward Boscawen ' s fleet , returning in November . At the end of 1755 Geary received orders to join the Channel Squadron under Sir Edward Hawke . During the winter of 1756 and into early 1757 Geary was part of the court - martial of Admiral John Byng . In April Geary aboard the " Somerset " , and in company with , captured a number of privateer s . In February 1758 Geary was given command of , moving the following year to . He sailed " Resolution " as part of the fleet under Hawke , quickly being assigned to command a squadron of ten ships of the line , two frigates and a fireship . He was promoted to Rear - Admiral of the Blue on either 19 May or 5 June , and on 7 July moved his flag to the 90 - gun . He moved again on 29 August to whilst the " Sandwich " underwent a refit , returning to " Sandwich " in late September . Geary remained with Hawke , patrolling off the French coast , before returning with the fleet in November . The " Sandwich " had lost her main - mast in a storm , and was forced to remain in port as Hawke put to sea again . Geary was therefore unable to take part in Hawke ' s victory at Quiberon Bay on 20 November . Geary spent the rest of 1759 and some of 1760 patrolling off Ushant . After a stay in port , he put to sea again on 30 April to intercept a French squadron assembling at Rochefort for a voyage to the East Indies . He cruised off the port until it became clear the French had abandoned the expedition , on which he was ordered to rejoin Hawke . He returned to Britain in October and became Port Admiral at Spithead , flying his flag aboard . He oversaw preparations for the expedition against Belle Île , and those for Sir George Pocock ' s expedition against Cuba . Further advances . Geary was promoted to Vice - Admiral of the Blue on 21 October 1762 . He remained at Spithead , with a brief period in command at the Nore , until the peace in 1763 ended the war . He struck his flag and entered another period of retirement until November 1769 , when he became Commander - in - Chief , Portsmouth . Increasing tensions with Spain led to his return to service and his promotion to Vice - Admiral of the Red on 17 October 1770 . He retired again after the relieving of tensions led to a reduction in the navy . Though not on active service , he continued to rise through the ranks based on his seniority . He became Admiral of the Blue on 31 March 1775 , and Admiral of the White on 29 January 1778 . The death of Admiral Sir Charles Hardy in May 1780 led to Geary being recalled to service , despite being in poor health . He hoisted his flag aboard the 100 - gun first rate , with Richard Kempenfelt as his flag captain and took command of the Channel Fleet . Geary put to sea , patrolling off Brest in the hope of preventing the joining of the French and Spanish fleets . Sails were sighted on 9 July , and Geary gave chase believing them to be one of the enemy fleets . It was found that they were instead an enemy merchant convoy . Geary engaged and captured twelve of the merchants , the rest escaping under cover of fog . Retirement and death . Geary returned to port in August , but was taken ill and returned to Polesden Lacey . Feeling himself unfit to retain command , he requested and received permission to resign . He was created a baronet on 3 August 1782 , and died at the age of 86 on 7 February 1796 . Family and personal life . Geary married Mary Bartholomew in 1747 . The marriage produced two sons and three daughters . His eldest son , also named Francis , joined the army . He became a Cornet , but was killed in North America in an ambush in 1776 . Mary died on 28 August 1778 . Geary ' s second son , William , inherited the baronetcy on his death .