Graham Moore (admiral)

This article is about the Royal Navy admiral. For the American writer, see Graham Moore (writer). For the Welsh footballer, see Graham Moore (footballer). For other uses, see Graham Moore.
Sir Graham Moore

Oil on canvas portrait, c. 1792, by Sir Thomas Lawrence

Oil on canvas portrait, c. 1792, by Sir Thomas Lawrence
Born 1764
Glasgow, Scotland
Died 25 November 1843 (aged 78–79)
Cobham, Surrey
Allegiance  Great Britain
 United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Navy
Years of service 1777–1839
Rank Admiral
Commands held
Battles/wars
Awards
Relations Dr. John Moore (father)
General Sir John Moore (brother)
Harriet Jane Moore (niece)

Admiral Sir Graham Moore, GCB GCMG (1764–1843) was a British sailor and a career officer in the Royal Navy. He was the younger brother of General Sir John Moore.

Naval career

Moore was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of Jean Simson and John Moore, doctor and author. He entered the Navy in 1777[1] at the age of 13. He was promoted to lieutenant on 8 March 1782 to serve aboard Crown, taking part in the relief of Gibraltar under Lord Howe, and the subsequent battle of Cape Spartel in October. During the peace he travelled through France, but was recalled to serve aboard Perseus, Dido, and then Adamant, the flagship of Sir Richard Hughes on the North American Station. On 22 November 1790 he was promoted to commander in the sloop Bonetta, before finally returning to England in 1793.[1]

Moore was promoted to post-captain on 2 April 1794, soon after the start of the Revolutionary War, with command of the 32-gun frigate Syren,[2] in the North Sea and the coast of France. He then commanded the 36-gun frigate Melampus from September 1795.[1] In her he took part in the Battle of Tory Island on 12 October 1798, capturing the French frigate Résolue two days later.[2] In February 1800 he went out to the West Indies, but was invalided home after eighteen months.[1]

On the renewal of the war in 1803 he was appointed to Indefatigable (44),[1] and with three other frigates — Medusa (32), Lively (38) and Amphion (32) — under his command, captured a Spanish treasure fleet of four frigates — Medea (40), Clara (34), Fama (34) and Mercedes (36) — carrying bullion from the Caribbean back to Spain off Cadiz in the Action of 5 October 1804.[1]

Moore was then attached to Sir Robert Calder's squadron blockading Ferrol. In 1808, he served as commodore, flying his broad pennant in the new ship Marlborough[1] assisting Admiral Sir Sidney Smith with the Portuguese royal family's escape to Brazil,[1] and was subsequently made a Knight of the Order of the Tower and Sword.[2]

He later served as part of the North Sea fleet for several years.[1] At the close of the Walcheren campaign in December 1809, he was entrusted with destroying the basin, arsenal, and sea defences of Flushing (Vlissingen).[2]

Moore commanded Chatham from March 1812, until promoted to rear-admiral on 12 August 1812,[2] and served as Commander-in-Chief in the Baltic for a short time, flying his flag in HMS Fame. In 1814 he served as captain of the fleet to Lord Keith in the Channel, and became second-in-command, Mediterranean Fleet in 1815.[1] Following the end of the war he served on the Board of Admiralty between 1816 and 1820,[1] being promoted to vice-admiral on 12 August 1819.[2] He was Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet between 1820 and 1823,[1] promoted to full admiral on 10 January 1837, and served as Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth from 1839 to 1842[1] flying his flag in Impregnable.

Tomb of Sir Graham Moore at St. Andrew's Church, Cobham, Surrey

Moore died at his home, Brook Farm, Cobham, Surrey,[3] on 25 November 1843,[1] and was buried at St. Andrew's Church.[4]

Family

In 1812 he married Dora Eden, daughter of Thomas Eden, and niece of William Eden, 1st Baron Auckland; they had one son, Captain John Moore, RN (d. 1866).[1]

Diary

Moore kept a detailed diary from 1784 until 1806, later published in thirty-seven volumes, which provides a unique account of his service as a lieutenant, commander and captain.

Namesakes

Several places were named in his honour: the Sir Graham Moore Islands, Cape Graham Moore, and Graham Moore Bay, in northern Canada were named by William Parry, while the Sir Graham Moore Islands, Western Australia, were named by Phillip Parker King.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15  Laughton, John Knox (1894). "Moore, Graham". In Lee, Sidney. Dictionary of National Biography. 38. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 O'Byrne, William Richard (1849). A Naval Biographical Dictionary: comprising the life and services of every living officer in Her Majesty's navy, from the rank of admiral of the fleet to that of lieutenant, inclusive. London: John Murray. p. 777. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "Obituary : Admiral Sir Graham Moore". The Gentleman's Magazine. XXI: 317–319. 1844. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "Moore Tomb, Church of St Andrew". British Listed Buildings. 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.

Further reading

External links

 "Moore, Graham". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 

Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Thomas Fremantle		 Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet
1820–1823 		Succeeded by
Sir Harry Burrard-Neale
Preceded by
Lord Amelius Beauclerk		 Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
1839–1842 		Succeeded by
Sir David Milne
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