born March 8, 1726, London, Eng.
died Aug. 5, 1799
English admiral who commanded the British fleet to victory in the Battle of the First of June (1794) in the French Revolutionary Wars .
As vice admiral (from 1775), he commanded in North America (1776–78), defeating French attempts to take Newport, R.I. After returning to England, he commanded the Channel fleet against the French and Spaniards and served as first lord of the Admiralty (1783–88). In 1793 he again commanded the Channel fleet. His victory against the French on June 1, 1794, provided an example of tactical excellence for his successors, including Horatio Nelson .