Philip Affleck
Encyclopedia
Philip Affleck was a British
admiral
— a younger brother of Sir Edmund Affleck
. Although not equally fortunate in having had opportunities afforded to him to win for himself a degree of distinction similar to that which had been acquired by the commodore; still Philip, when serving afloat, had often encountered the enemy, and, on more than one occasion, evinced considerable daring in conflicts which are technically termed "cutting out;" indeed at the siege of Louisburg, he obtained his commander's commission for the intrepidity and courage he displayed in boarding, and capturing with the boats of the squadron, two French vessels of war of considerable force.
. He joined the navy at an undetermined date and was promoted acting Lieutenant in 1755. As a lieutenant he served either in the sloop-of-war or bomb ketch although as his brother Edmund
was serving at almost exactly the same time the records are a little unclear. At the Siege of Louisbourg
he distinguished himself in leading the boats that cut out the French men-of-war Prudente and Bienfaisant and was promoted to command. His promotion to commander was confirmed on August 1, 1759 and Affleck accompanied Edward Boscawen in the sloop of war (18) to the Mediterranean. In Gramont Affleck took part in the Battle of Lagos
where he impressed Boscawen to such a degree that the Admiral made Affleck Post-Captain with the effective date of 28 August 1759 and put Affleck in command of the flagship . He was assigned to and sent to India. During the blockade of Pondicherry on the 1st January 1761 Panther was dismasted in a hurricane and once more Affleck excelled and impressed his superiors in his calm handling of the situation. In May 1761 he exchanged command of Panther with Captain Newsom to command the storeship but resigned command of her in early 1762. He then became captain of , which the British had captured some two years earlier at Pondicherry. Not long thereafter he returned to England.
.
In the spring of 1780 Affleck was sent to the West Indies in order to reinforce Admiral Rodney
. He missed the Battle of Martinique
in April of that year but was present at the two subsequent battles on 15 and 19 May off Dominica and Martinique against the French Admiral the Comte De Guichen
. Affleck was with Rodney once more at the capture of Saint Eusatia and Saba the following February. He returned to England in 1781 and was on the beach until April 1783 when the Thunderer was recommissioned to be the guard ship in Portsmouth. He commanded her until July 1784 when his brother Edmund took over temporary command. Affleck remained unemployed until the 24th September 1787 when he was appointed Rear-Admiral of the Blue Squadron. In 1790 he was made commander-in-chief of the Jamaica station.
, Earl of Chatham. 11 April 1794 he was promoted to Vice Admiral of the White, 4 July 1794 Vice Admiral of the Red, 1 June 1795 Admiral of the Blue and on 14 February 1799 to the post of Admiral of the White.
The Earl of Sandwich commented on Affleck that he was:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
— a younger brother of Sir Edmund Affleck
Edmund Affleck
Sir Edmund Affleck, 1st Baronet was a naval officer of considerable repute. He entered the navy at an early age, and during reign of George II, served in the several capacities of lieutenant, master and commander, and post captain...
. Although not equally fortunate in having had opportunities afforded to him to win for himself a degree of distinction similar to that which had been acquired by the commodore; still Philip, when serving afloat, had often encountered the enemy, and, on more than one occasion, evinced considerable daring in conflicts which are technically termed "cutting out;" indeed at the siege of Louisburg, he obtained his commander's commission for the intrepidity and courage he displayed in boarding, and capturing with the boats of the squadron, two French vessels of war of considerable force.
Early career
Affleck began his nautical career in the service of the East India CompanyEast India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. He joined the navy at an undetermined date and was promoted acting Lieutenant in 1755. As a lieutenant he served either in the sloop-of-war or bomb ketch although as his brother Edmund
Edmund Affleck
Sir Edmund Affleck, 1st Baronet was a naval officer of considerable repute. He entered the navy at an early age, and during reign of George II, served in the several capacities of lieutenant, master and commander, and post captain...
was serving at almost exactly the same time the records are a little unclear. At the Siege of Louisbourg
Siege of Louisbourg (1758)
The Siege of Louisbourg was a pivotal battle of the Seven Years' War in 1758 which ended the French colonial era in Atlantic Canada and led directly to the loss of Quebec in 1759 and the remainder of French North America the following year.-Background:The British government realized that with the...
he distinguished himself in leading the boats that cut out the French men-of-war Prudente and Bienfaisant and was promoted to command. His promotion to commander was confirmed on August 1, 1759 and Affleck accompanied Edward Boscawen in the sloop of war (18) to the Mediterranean. In Gramont Affleck took part in the Battle of Lagos
Battle of Lagos
The naval Battle of Lagos between Britain and France took place on August 19, 1759 during the Seven Years' War off the coasts of Spain and Portugal, and is named after Lagos, Portugal. For the British, it was part of the Annus Mirabilis of 1759.-Origins:...
where he impressed Boscawen to such a degree that the Admiral made Affleck Post-Captain with the effective date of 28 August 1759 and put Affleck in command of the flagship . He was assigned to and sent to India. During the blockade of Pondicherry on the 1st January 1761 Panther was dismasted in a hurricane and once more Affleck excelled and impressed his superiors in his calm handling of the situation. In May 1761 he exchanged command of Panther with Captain Newsom to command the storeship but resigned command of her in early 1762. He then became captain of , which the British had captured some two years earlier at Pondicherry. Not long thereafter he returned to England.
HMS Triumph and the West Indies
In 1779 he was appointed Captain of in the Channel FleetChannel Fleet
The Channel Fleet was the Royal Navy formation of warships that defended the waters of the English Channel from 1690 to 1909.-History:The Channel Fleet dates back at least to 1690 when its role was to defend England against the French threat under the leadership of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of...
.
In the spring of 1780 Affleck was sent to the West Indies in order to reinforce Admiral Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, KB 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...
. He missed the Battle of Martinique
Battle of Martinique (1780)
The Battle of Martinique, also Combat de la Dominique, took place on April 17, 1780 during the American War of Independence in the West Indies between the British Royal Navy and the French Navy.-Origins:...
in April of that year but was present at the two subsequent battles on 15 and 19 May off Dominica and Martinique against the French Admiral the Comte De Guichen
Luc Urbain de Bouexic, comte de Guichen
Luc Urbain de Bouëxic, comte de Guichen - French admiral; entered the navy in 1730 as "garde de la Marine," the first rank in the corps of royal officers.His promotion was not rapid...
. Affleck was with Rodney once more at the capture of Saint Eusatia and Saba the following February. He returned to England in 1781 and was on the beach until April 1783 when the Thunderer was recommissioned to be the guard ship in Portsmouth. He commanded her until July 1784 when his brother Edmund took over temporary command. Affleck remained unemployed until the 24th September 1787 when he was appointed Rear-Admiral of the Blue Squadron. In 1790 he was made commander-in-chief of the Jamaica station.
Lord of the Admiralty
He returned to England in 1792 and was promoted in early 1793 to Vice-Admiral of the Blue Squadron. In April of that year he was appointed as one of the Lords of the Admiralty under John PittJohn Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham
General John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham, KG, PC was a British peer and soldier.-Career:He was the eldest son of William Pitt the Elder and an elder brother of William Pitt the Younger...
, Earl of Chatham. 11 April 1794 he was promoted to Vice Admiral of the White, 4 July 1794 Vice Admiral of the Red, 1 June 1795 Admiral of the Blue and on 14 February 1799 to the post of Admiral of the White.
Retirement and Death
Affleck retired from his seat on the Board of the Admiralty in 1796 and lived quietly and privately at his home in Bath. He died at his home on 21 December 1799. The Naval Chronicle said of him that he was "Universally respected as an officer, as a gentleman, and as a christian."The Earl of Sandwich commented on Affleck that he was: