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James Saumarez, 1st Baron of Saumarez
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James Saumarez, 1st Baron of Saumarez

British admiral
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Quick Facts
Born:
March 11, 1757, St. Peter Port, Guernsey
Died:
Oct. 9, 1836, Guernsey (aged 79)

James Saumarez, 1st Baron of Saumarez (born March 11, 1757, St. Peter Port, Guernsey—died Oct. 9, 1836, Guernsey) was a British admiral who fought with consistent success in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars and scored perhaps his greatest victory on July 12, 1801, when he routed a superior Franco-Spanish fleet off Algeciras, Spain.

Entering the navy at the age of 13, Saumarez was promoted to lieutenant for bravery during the attack on Charleston, S.C. (June 28, 1776), in the American Revolutionary War and to commander for his part in a battle against the Dutch off the Dogger Bank (Aug. 5, 1781). In command of the 74-gun Russell, he helped Adm. George Rodney defeat the French under the Comte de Grasse in the Battle of the Saints off Dominica (April 12, 1782).

Soon after the outbreak of war with Revolutionary France, Saumarez captured (Oct. 20, 1793) La Réunion, a large French frigate, and was knighted shortly afterward. He took part in the naval battles off Lorient (June 22, 1795) and Cape St. Vincent (Feb. 14, 1797) and in the blockade of Cádiz (February 1797–April 1798). In the Battle of the Nile (Aug. 1, 1798) he was Horatio (afterward Viscount) Nelson’s second in command. From February 1799 he commanded the 84-gun Caesar. He was created a baronet on June 13, 1801, a month before his victory of Algeciras.

Saumarez commanded the Baltic Fleet with distinction from 1809 to 1814, when he was promoted to admiral and received honours from King Charles XIII of Sweden. On Sept. 15, 1831, he was created Baron de Saumarez by King William IV. In February 1832 Saumarez was appointed general of marines, a post abolished after his death.

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