Holmes was the fourth son of Colonel Henry Holmes, governor of the Isle of Wight, and his maternal grandfather had been Admiral Sir Robert Holmes, one of England"s most noted naval leaders during the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the previous century who had overseen Holmes" Bonfire.
He is also known for leading a British squadron up the River Ems in 1758, leading directly to the Capture of Emden. Joining the navy at the age of 16, he was promoted to lieutenant in 1734 and received his first command in 1741. In 1747 Holmes was given command of HMS Lenox, one of the biggest warships in the navy, but peace was signed the following year and he would serve for the next few years in British waters.
When the broke out, he was commanding HMS Grafton, and was sent under Admiral Holburne to reinforce Admiral Boscawen"s force in the Atlantic, assisting in the interception of a French squadron bound for North America and the capture of the Alcide and the Lys in April 1755.
In 1758 Holmes was sent as Commodore of a small squadron (two frigates, a cutter and a bomb ketch) to the Ems where, despite one of the frigates running aground in the river and having to be sent home, he succeeded in capturing Emden from the French. Soon afterwards he was promoted to rear admiral, and the following year was appointed third-in-command under Admiral Saunders of the naval expedition up the Street Lawrence river to besiege Quebec, his flagship being HMS Lowestoffe.
He succeeded in getting a squadron of ships and troop transports past the French batteries, and was therefore able to put Wolfe and his troops ashore beyond the city, safely and in absolute silence, allowing its eventual capture after the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. In March 1760, Holmes was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Jamaica Station, and died there in November 1761.
There is a memorial to him in Westminster Abbey.
He was a known patron of brothel keeper Jane Douglas.
Holmes was elected Member of Parliament for Newport, Isle of Wight in 1758, and held the seat until his death three years later.
