Charles Holmes (Royal Navy officer)
Encyclopedia
Charles Holmes was a Rear admiral
in the British Navy
during the Seven Years War, and was Wolfe's
third-in-command during the capture of Quebec
in 1759. He is also known for leading a British squadron up the River Ems
in 1758, leading directly to the Capture of Emden.
, 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. Joining the navy at the age of 16, he was promoted to lieutenant in 1734 and received his first command in 1741. For the remainder of the war, he served mostly in the West Indies.
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.
, 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 St 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 at Jamaica
, and died there the following year. There is a memorial to him in Westminster Abbey
.
Holmes was elected Member of Parliament
for Newport, Isle of Wight
in 1758, and held the seat until his death three years later. (Two of his brothers, General Henry Holmes
and Thomas Holmes
were also MPs for Isle of Wight constituencies.) He was also a member of the court martial that tried and condemned Admiral Byng
in 1757. He was a known patron of brothel keeper Jane Douglas
.
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
in the British Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
during the Seven Years War, and was Wolfe's
James Wolfe
Major General James P. Wolfe was a British Army officer, known for his training reforms but remembered chiefly for his victory over the French in Canada...
third-in-command during the capture of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in 1759. He is also known for leading a British squadron up the River Ems
River Ems
The river name Ems may refer to:* Ems , a river in Germany and the Netherlands* River Ems , a river in the English counties of West Sussex and Hampshire...
in 1758, leading directly to the Capture of Emden.
Early life
Holmes was the fourth son of Colonel Henry Holmes, governor of the Isle of WightIsle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, and his maternal grandfather had been Admiral Sir Robert Holmes, one of England's most noted naval leaders during the Anglo-Dutch Wars
Anglo-Dutch Wars
The Anglo–Dutch Wars were a series of wars fought between the English and the Dutch in the 17th and 18th centuries for control over the seas and trade routes. The first war took place during the English Interregnum, and was fought between the Commonwealth of England and the Dutch Republic...
of the previous century who had overseen Holmes' Bonfire. Joining the navy at the age of 16, he was promoted to lieutenant in 1734 and received his first command in 1741. For the remainder of the war, he served mostly in the West Indies.
In 1747 Holmes was given command of HMS Lenox
HMS Lenox (1678)
HMS Lenox was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford Dockyard on 18 April 1678.She was rebuilt at Deptford in 1701, remaining as a 70-gun third rate. In 1707, she had belonged to Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell's fleet...
, 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.
Seven Years War
When the Seven Years War broke out, he was commanding HMS GraftonHMS Grafton (1750)
HMS Grafton was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Portsmouth Dockyard to the draught specified by the 1745 Establishment, and launched on 29 March 1750.Grafton served until 1767, when she was sold out of the navy....
, and was sent under Admiral Holburne
Francis Holburne
Admiral Sir Francis Holburne was a Royal Navy officer who also served as a Member of Parliament.-Naval career:Francis entered the Navy in 1720 as a volunteer aboard , passing his examinations in 1725...
to reinforce Admiral Boscawen's
Edward Boscawen
Admiral Edward Boscawen, PC was an Admiral in the Royal Navy and Member of Parliament for the borough of Truro, Cornwall. He is known principally for his various naval commands throughout the 18th Century and the engagements that he won, including the Siege of Louisburg in 1758 and Battle of Lagos...
force in the Atlantic, assisting in the interception of a French squadron bound for North America and the capture of the Alcide
French ship Alcide (1742)
Alcide was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, launched in 1742.The captain of the vessel was Toussaint Hocquart, for the re-enforcement campaign that was sent to Canada in May of 1755....
and the Lys
French ship Lys
Nine ships of the French Navy have borne the name Lys after the Lilium, a flower featured in the arms of France as the Fleur-de-lis:* Assuré , a 54-gun ship of the line, was started as Lys, and became Assuré from 1771....
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
Emden
Emden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
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 St Lawrence river to besiege Quebec, his flagship being HMS Lowestoffe
HMS Lowestoffe (1756)
HMS Lowestoffe was a 28-gun sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. The ship was designed by Sir Thomas Slade based on the earlier Lyme of 1748, "with such alterations as may tend to the better stowing of men and carrying for guns." The design provided for a 24-gun ship...
. 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
Battle of the Plains of Abraham
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Battle of Quebec, was a pivotal battle in the Seven Years' War...
.
In March 1760, Holmes was appointed Commander-in-Chief at Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, and died there the following year. There is a memorial to him in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
.
Holmes was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Newport, Isle of Wight
Newport (Isle of Wight) (UK Parliament constituency)
Newport was a parliamentary borough located in Newport , which was abolished in for the 1885 general election. It was occasionally referred to by the alternative name of Medina....
in 1758, and held the seat until his death three years later. (Two of his brothers, General Henry Holmes
Henry Holmes (general)
Lieutenant-General Henry Holmes was a British army officer and Member of Parliament .The second son of Henry Holmes, an MP and lieutenant-governor of the Isle of Wight, Holmes was commissioned as an ensign in the 28th Foot in 1721. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1723, captain in 1727, major in...
and Thomas Holmes
Thomas Holmes, 1st Baron Holmes
Thomas Holmes was an English Member of Parliament, who managed elections in the government interest in the Isle of Wight during the 1750s and 1760s....
were also MPs for Isle of Wight constituencies.) He was also a member of the court martial that tried and condemned Admiral Byng
John Byng
Admiral John Byng was a Royal Navy officer. After joining the navy at the age of thirteen he participated at the Battle of Cape Passaro in 1718. Over the next thirty years he built up a reputation as a solid naval officer and received promotion to Vice-Admiral in 1747...
in 1757. He was a known patron of brothel keeper Jane Douglas
Jane Douglas
Jane Douglas commonly known as Mother Douglas, was a brothel-keeper in mid-18th century London. Known at the time as The Empress of the Bawds, her house in Covent Garden attracted customers from the higher echelons of society.-Early career:Mother Douglas was born around 1700 to a well-to-do...
.