George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney was a British naval officer. He is best known for his commands in the American War of Independence, particularly his victory over the French at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782. It is often claimed that he was the commander to have pioneered the tactic of "breaking the line".
Background
George Brydges Rodney was born either in Walton-on-Thames or in London, though the family seat was Rodney Stoke, Somerset. He was most likely born sometime in January 1718. He was baptised in St Giles-in-the-Fields on 13 February 1718. He was the third of four surviving children of Henry Rodney and Mary (Newton) Rodney, daughter of Sir Henry Newton. His father had served in Spain under the Earl of Peterborough during the War of the Spanish Succession, and on leaving the army served as captain in a marine corps which was disbanded in 1713. A major investment in the South Sea Company ruined Henry Rodney and impoverished the family. In spite of their lack of money, the family was well-connected by marriage. It is sometimes claimed that Henry Rodney had served as commander of the Royal Yacht of George I and it was after him that George was named, but this had been discounted more recently.
Education
George was sent to Harrow School, being appointed, on leaving, by warrant dated 21 June 1732, a volunteer on board Sunderland.
Career
During the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–48), he took part in Admiral Hawke’s victory off Ushant over the French fleet. In 1749 he was appointed governor and commander in chief of Newfoundland, with the rank of commodore.
During the Seven Years’ War Rodney had a share in the expedition against Rochefort (1757). In the next year he served under Boscawen at the taking of Louisburg (Cape Breton). In 1759 and again in 1760 he inflicted great loss on the French transports collected on the Normandy coast for an attack on Great Britain. In October 1761 he was appointed commander in chief of the Leeward Islands station and, within the first three months of 1762, had reduced the important island of Martinique, while both St. Lucia and Grenada had surrendered to his squadron. In 1764 he was created a baronet, and in 1771 he was appointed rear admiral of Great Britain.
Rodney won his greatest victories against the European powers that opposed Britain in the American Revolutionary War. He captured a Spanish convoy off Cape Finisterre on Jan. 8, 1780, and eight days later defeated the Spanish admiral Don Juan de Langara off Cape St. Vincent, taking or destroying seven ships. On April 17 an action, which, as a result of the carelessness of some of Rodney’s captains, was indecisive, was fought off Martinique with the French admiral Guichen. Rodney, acting under orders, captured the valuable Dutch island of St. Eustatius on Feb. 3, 1781. It had been a great entrepôt of neutral trade, and was full of booty, which Rodney confiscated. A running engagement with the French fleet on April 9, 1782, led up to his crowning victory (the Battle of the Saints) off Dominica, when with 36 ships of the line he defeated the Count de Grasse, who had 34 ships (April 12), severely damaging French naval prestige but failing to save Britain’s position in North America (see American Revolution). On his return to England Rodney received a barony and a pension of £2, 000 a year.
Achievements
Membership
Parliament for Saltash, Parliament for Okehampton, Parliament for Northampton, Parliament for Westminster
Connections
In 1753 he married his first wife, Jane Compton, sister of Charles Compton, 7th Earl of Northampton. He had initially been undecided whether to marry Jane or her younger sister Kitty whom he had met in Lisbon during his various visits to the city, where their father Charles Compton was consul. The marriage proved happy, and they had three children together before she died in January 1757.
In 1764, Rodney was created a baronet, and the same year he married Henrietta, daughter of John Clies of Lisbon.