Sir John Moore, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir John Moore, 1st Baronet KB
(24 March 1718 – 2 February 1779) was a British
officer of the Royal Navy
during the War of the Austrian Succession
and the Seven Years War. He eventually rose to the rank of Admiral
.
of Malpas, Cheshire
and the son of
Henry Hamilton-Moore, 3rd Earl of Drogheda. John's mother, Catherine, was the daughter of Sir Thomas Knatchbull, baronet, and was also the widow of Sir George Rooke
. Moore was initially educated at the Whitchurch
grammar school, Shropshire
but by age 11 he appears on the books of HMS Lion
for her voyage to the West Indies in 1729. The Lion was at this time the flagship
of Rear-Admiral Charles Stewart, a relative of Moore's.
, and then to HMS Diamond. The Diamond came under the command in 1731 of George Anson
. Moore spent a year aboard Diamond, before transferring to HMS Princess Amelia
under Captain Edward Reddish. His next ship was HMS Squirrel, by now being captained by Moore's old commander George Anson. Moore spent the next three and a half years aboard the Squirrel off the coast of Carolina
. He then moved to HMS Edinburgh
for several months, which was at this time serving in the English Channel
as the flagship of his relative, now Vice-Admiral Charles Stewart. Moore moved again, this time to HMS Torrington
, under Captain William Parry. He passed his lieutenant's examination on 6 April 1738 and joined HMS Lancaster
at his new rank. The Lancaster at this time was part of the fleet under Rear-Admiral Nicholas Haddock
, patrolling off Cadiz
and making forays into the Mediterranean.
Haddock returned to England because of ill-health in 1742, leaving the fleet under the temporary command of Richard Lestock
. Lestock was relieved of the command by the arrival of Vice-Admiral Thomas Mathews
. Mathews brought Moore aboard his flagship, HMS Namur
but later returned him to England aboard HMS Lenox
to serve under another of Moore's relatives, Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea
, who by this time had become First Lord of the Admiralty
. Enjoying the patronage of so highly placed a relative meant that Moore would have expected more postings and the chance of further promotions. He was duly appointed to command the new frigate
HMS Diamond on 24 December 1743, and sailed with her to the East Indies
in May 1744 as part of a squadron under the command of Commodore Curtis Barnett. They stopped off at Madagascar
, and on departing, the Diamond and the Medway
were briefly detached to cruise the Strait of Malacca
. Here they captured a two French ships, one a rich merchant from Manila
, and the other the large privateer
Favorette, out of Pondicherry. The privateer was taken into service as HMS Medway Prize. Moore was moved aboard Barnett's flagship HMS Deptford
. After Barnett died on 2 May 1746 Moore returned to England with the Deptford.
. The Devonshire was serving as the flagship of Rear-Admiral Edward Hawke. Moore was therefore present for Hawke's autumn cruise in the Bay of Biscay
, and was present at the Second Battle of Cape Finisterre
on 14 October, where Hawke defeated a French fleet under Admiral Desherbiers de l'Etenduère on 14 October. Moore appears to have acquitted himself in the battle, for Hawke entrusted him with taking the dispatches back to Britain. He also wrote
Moore was appointed to command the yacht
HMS William and Mary, followed by a return to the Devonshire in April 1756.
of Admiral John Byng
in January 1757, which led to Byng's execution. Moore later petitioned to be released from the oath of secrecy, and it was later intimated that he was ‘on intimate terms with Byng's family’ His next appointment was as commodore
of a squadron to go with his new post as commander-in-chief on the Leeward Islands
station. He subsequently raised his flag aboard HMS Cambridge
. With the decision to distract French attention during the Seven Years War, Moore was reinforced in January 1759 with a force of eleven ships of the line, besides frigates and small craft, and a military force under General Peregrine Hopson
. He was then instructed to carry out attacks on French possessions in the West Indies. Moore took his force from Barbados
to Martinique
and reduced the enemy stronghold of Fort Negro, after which he covered the landing of troops in Fort Royal Bay. Despite initial success the undertaking was abandoned over Hopson's fears that the approaches to the French towns were mined.
Hopson then suggested an attack on Saint-Pierre
, but Moore advised an assault on Guadeloupe
instead. For the Invasion of Guadeloupe Moore transferred his flag to HMS Woolwich
. The fleet arrived off Basseterre
on 22 January, and had deployed by 23 January. The Cambridge, in company with HMS Norfolk
and HMS St George
, were ordered to attack the main citadel. The resulting attack lasted from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, and succeeded in silencing the defences, and starting serious fires throughout the French positions. Troops were then landed and drove the French into the hills, where they maintained their resistance, secretly supplied with provisions by the Dutch. Moore then received intelligence on 11 March that a large French naval force had arrived. He consequently shifted his position to Prince Rupert's Bay in Dominica
in order to be able to outflank any attempt by this enemy fleet to relieve Guadeloupe. No such attempt was made and Guadeloupe and the adjacent small islands, the Saints
and Deseada. After this success Moore returned to England in 1760.
. He then became Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
, a post he held for the next three years. He was created a baronet
on 4 March 1766, becoming 1st Baronet Moore. A series of promotions followed, based upon his seniority within the service. He was made vice-admiral on 18 October 1770, a KB
in 1772, and admiral on 29 January 1778. He had suffered from gout
since the 1760s, and his health had been steadily declining. The attacks had become violent by 1777. His last public duty was to join his old commander Edward Hawke in signing a protest against the holding of a court-martial against Admiral Augustus Keppel
in December 1778. John Moore died two months later, on 2 February 1779.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(24 March 1718 – 2 February 1779) was a British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
officer of the Royal 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 War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
and the Seven Years War. He eventually rose to the rank of 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"...
.
Childhood
Moore was born on 24 March 1718, as the third son of Henry Moore, the rectorRector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Malpas, Cheshire
Malpas, Cheshire
Malpas is a large village which used to be a market town, and it is also a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The parish lies on the border with Shropshire and Wales...
and the son of
Henry Hamilton-Moore, 3rd Earl of Drogheda. John's mother, Catherine, was the daughter of Sir Thomas Knatchbull, baronet, and was also the widow of Sir George Rooke
George Rooke
Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Rooke was an English naval commander. He is known for his service in the wars against France and particularly remembered today for his victory at Vigo Bay and for capturing Gibraltar for the British in 1704.-Early life:Rooke was born at St Lawrence, near Canterbury...
. Moore was initially educated at the Whitchurch
Whitchurch, Shropshire
Whitchurch is a market town in Shropshire, England on the border between England and Wales. It is the oldest continuously inhabited town in Shropshire. According to the 2001 Census, the population of the town is 8,673, with a more recent estimate putting the population of the town at 8,934...
grammar school, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
but by age 11 he appears on the books of HMS Lion
HMS Lion (1709)
HMS Lion was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Chatham Dockyard to the 1706 Establishment and launched on 20 January 1709....
for her voyage to the West Indies in 1729. The Lion was at this time the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of Rear-Admiral Charles Stewart, a relative of Moore's.
Early naval service
Moore left the Lion before it sailed however, transferring first to HMS RupertHMS Rupert (1666)
HMS Rupert was a 64-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, ordered on 26 October 1664 as part of the ship construction programme of that year...
, and then to HMS Diamond. The Diamond came under the command in 1731 of George Anson
George Anson, 1st Baron Anson
Admiral of the Fleet George Anson, 1st Baron Anson PC, FRS, RN was a British admiral and a wealthy aristocrat, noted for his circumnavigation of the globe and his role overseeing the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War...
. Moore spent a year aboard Diamond, before transferring to HMS Princess Amelia
HMS Humber (1693)
HMS Humber was an 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Hull on 30 March 1693.She was rebuilt according to the 1706 Establishment at Deptford in 1708. Her guns, previously being mounted on two gundecks, where now mounted on three, though she remained classified as a...
under Captain Edward Reddish. His next ship was HMS Squirrel, by now being captained by Moore's old commander George Anson. Moore spent the next three and a half years aboard the Squirrel off the coast of Carolina
Province of Carolina
The Province of Carolina, originally chartered in 1629, was an English and later British colony of North America. Because the original Heath charter was unrealized and was ruled invalid, a new charter was issued to a group of eight English noblemen, the Lords Proprietors, in 1663...
. He then moved to HMS Edinburgh
HMS Warspite (1666)
HMS Warspite was a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched in 1666 at Blackwall Yard. This second Warspite was one of the five ships designed to carry more provisions and lower deck guns higher above the water than French and Dutch equivalents...
for several months, which was at this time serving in the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
as the flagship of his relative, now Vice-Admiral Charles Stewart. Moore moved again, this time to HMS Torrington
HMS Charles Galley (1676)
HMS Charles Galley was a 32–gun fifth rate of the Royal Navy built at Woolwich Dockyard and launched in 1676. She was rebuilt in 1693, and again at Deptford Dockyard in 1710. She was renamed HMS Torrington after a third rebuild in 1729, and was Hulked in 1740. She was finally sold on 12 July...
, under Captain William Parry. He passed his lieutenant's examination on 6 April 1738 and joined HMS Lancaster
HMS Lancaster (1694)
HMS Lancaster was an 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Bursledon on 3 April 1694.She was rebuilt according to the 1719 Establishment at Portsmouth, from where she was relaunched on 1 September 1722...
at his new rank. The Lancaster at this time was part of the fleet under Rear-Admiral Nicholas Haddock
Nicholas Haddock
Nicholas Haddock was an admiral in the British Royal Navy and a Member of Parliament .Haddock, the second son of Admiral Sir Richard Haddock, was destined for a naval career from childhood and first distinguished himself at the age of 16 as a midshipman at the Battle of Vigo in 1702...
, patrolling off Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
and making forays into the Mediterranean.
Haddock returned to England because of ill-health in 1742, leaving the fleet under the temporary command of Richard Lestock
Richard Lestock
Richard Lestock was an officer in the Royal Navy, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral. He fought in a number of battles, and was a controversial figure, most remembered for his part in the defeat at the Battle of Toulon, and the subsequent court-martial.-Family and early years:Lestock is...
. Lestock was relieved of the command by the arrival of Vice-Admiral Thomas Mathews
Thomas Mathews
Thomas Mathews was a British officer of the Royal Navy, who rose to the rank of admiral.Mathews joined the navy in 1690 and saw service on a number of ships, including during the Nine Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession. He interspersed periods spent commanding ships with time at home...
. Mathews brought Moore aboard his flagship, HMS Namur
HMS Namur (1697)
HMS Namur was a 90-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Woolwich Dockyard in 1697.On 11 June 1723 she was ordered to be taken to pieces and rebuilt at Deptford, according to the 1719 Establishment. She was relaunched on 13 September 1729. In 1745, she was razeed to 74...
but later returned him to England aboard 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...
to serve under another of Moore's relatives, Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea
Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea
Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea and 3rd Earl of Nottingham, KG, PC was a British politician. Styled Lord Finch until 1730, he was the eldest son of Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham and his second wife Anne Hatton, daughter of Christopher Hatton, 1st Viscount Hatton...
, who by this time had become First Lord of the Admiralty
Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were the members of the Board of Admiralty, which exercised command over the Royal Navy.Officially known as the Commissioners for Exercising the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland &c. The Lords...
. Enjoying the patronage of so highly placed a relative meant that Moore would have expected more postings and the chance of further promotions. He was duly appointed to command the new frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
HMS Diamond on 24 December 1743, and sailed with her to the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
in May 1744 as part of a squadron under the command of Commodore Curtis Barnett. They stopped off at Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
, and on departing, the Diamond and the Medway
HMS Medway (1742)
HMS Medway was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built to the 1733 proposals of the 1719 Establishment at Rotherhithe, and launched on 26 May 1742.Medway was scuttled in 1748....
were briefly detached to cruise the Strait of Malacca
Strait of Malacca
The Strait of Malacca is a narrow, stretch of water between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is named after the Malacca Sultanate that ruled over the archipelago between 1414 to 1511.-Extent:...
. Here they captured a two French ships, one a rich merchant from Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, and the other the large privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
Favorette, out of Pondicherry. The privateer was taken into service as HMS Medway Prize. Moore was moved aboard Barnett's flagship HMS Deptford
HMS Deptford (1732)
HMS Deptford was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built to the dimensions of the 1719 Establishment at Deptford Dockyard, and launched on 22 August 1732....
. After Barnett died on 2 May 1746 Moore returned to England with the Deptford.
With Hawke, and during the peace
Moore was soon found another ship, being appointed in 1747 to HMS DevonshireHMS Devonshire (1745)
HMS Devonshire was a 66-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built to the dimensions laid out in the 1741 proposals of the 1719 Establishment at Woolwich Dockyard, and launched on 19 July 1745....
. The Devonshire was serving as the flagship of Rear-Admiral Edward Hawke. Moore was therefore present for Hawke's autumn cruise in the Bay of Biscay
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
, and was present at the Second Battle of Cape Finisterre
Second battle of Cape Finisterre (1747)
The Second Battle of Cape Finisterre was a naval battle which took place on 25 October 1747 during the War of the Austrian Succession...
on 14 October, where Hawke defeated a French fleet under Admiral Desherbiers de l'Etenduère on 14 October. Moore appears to have acquitted himself in the battle, for Hawke entrusted him with taking the dispatches back to Britain. He also wrote
‘I have sent this express by Captain Moore of the Devonshire … It would be doing great injustice to merit not to say that he signalized himself greatly in the action’During the period of peace that followed the end of the War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
Moore was appointed to command the yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
HMS William and Mary, followed by a return to the Devonshire in April 1756.
Seven Years War
Moore was a member of the court-martialCourt-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
of Admiral John 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 January 1757, which led to Byng's execution. Moore later petitioned to be released from the oath of secrecy, and it was later intimated that he was ‘on intimate terms with Byng's family’ His next appointment was as commodore
Commodore (Royal Navy)
Commodore is a rank of the Royal Navy above Captain and below Rear Admiral. It has a NATO ranking code of OF-6. The rank is equivalent to Brigadier in the British Army and Royal Marines and to Air Commodore in the Royal Air Force.-Insignia:...
of a squadron to go with his new post as commander-in-chief on the Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
station. He subsequently raised his flag aboard HMS Cambridge
HMS Cambridge (1755)
HMS Cambridge was an 80-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Deptford Dockyard to the draught specified by the 1745 Establishment as amended in 1750, and launched on 21 October 1755.-Early career:...
. With the decision to distract French attention during the Seven Years War, Moore was reinforced in January 1759 with a force of eleven ships of the line, besides frigates and small craft, and a military force under General Peregrine Hopson
Peregrine Hopson
Peregrine Thomas Hopson was a British army officer who saw extensive service during the Eighteenth Century and rose to the rank of Major General...
. He was then instructed to carry out attacks on French possessions in the West Indies. Moore took his force from Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
to Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
and reduced the enemy stronghold of Fort Negro, after which he covered the landing of troops in Fort Royal Bay. Despite initial success the undertaking was abandoned over Hopson's fears that the approaches to the French towns were mined.
Hopson then suggested an attack on Saint-Pierre
Saint-Pierre, Martinique
Saint-Pierre is a town and commune of France's Caribbean overseas department of Martinique, founded in 1635 by Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc. Before the total destruction of Saint-Pierre in 1902 by a volcanic eruption, it was the most important city of Martinique culturally and economically, being known...
, but Moore advised an assault on Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
instead. For the Invasion of Guadeloupe Moore transferred his flag to HMS Woolwich
HMS Woolwich (1749)
HMS Woolwich was a 44-gun fourth rate ship of the Royal Navy. She was built by Moody Janverin and John Darley at Bucklers Hard on the Beaulieu River in Hampshire, England and launched 7 March 1749.She was sold on 30 December 1762....
. The fleet arrived off Basseterre
Basseterre
Basseterre , estimated population 15,500 in 2000, is the capital of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis in the West Indies. Geographically, the Basseterre port is located at , on the south western coast of Saint Kitts Island, and it is one of the chief commercial depots of the Leeward Islands...
on 22 January, and had deployed by 23 January. The Cambridge, in company with HMS Norfolk
HMS Norfolk (1757)
HMS Norfolk was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, and the second ship to bear the name. She was launched on 8 December 1757 at Deptford....
and HMS St George
HMS Charles (1668)
HMS Charles was 96-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Christopher Pett at Deptford Dockyard until his death in March 1668, then completed by Jonas Shish after being launched in the same month. Her name was formally Charles the Second, but she was known simply as Charles,...
, were ordered to attack the main citadel. The resulting attack lasted from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, and succeeded in silencing the defences, and starting serious fires throughout the French positions. Troops were then landed and drove the French into the hills, where they maintained their resistance, secretly supplied with provisions by the Dutch. Moore then received intelligence on 11 March that a large French naval force had arrived. He consequently shifted his position to Prince Rupert's Bay in Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
in order to be able to outflank any attempt by this enemy fleet to relieve Guadeloupe. No such attempt was made and Guadeloupe and the adjacent small islands, the Saints
Îles des Saintes
The Îles des Saintes , also called simply Les Saintes , is a small archipelago of French Antilles located in the South of Basse-Terre Island, on the West of Marie-Galante and in the North of Dominica in the arc of Lesser Antilles...
and Deseada. After this success Moore returned to England in 1760.
Final years
Moore was promoted to rear-admiral on 21 October 1762, spending the rest of the war as commander-in-chief in The DownsThe Downs
The Downs are a roadstead or area of sea in the southern North Sea near the English Channel off the east Kent coast, between the North and the South Foreland in southern England. In 1639 the Battle of the Downs took place here, when the Dutch navy destroyed a Spanish fleet which had sought refuge...
. He then became Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. Portsmouth Command was a name given to the units, establishments, and staff operating under the post.-History:...
, a post he held for the next three years. He was created a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
on 4 March 1766, becoming 1st Baronet Moore. A series of promotions followed, based upon his seniority within the service. He was made vice-admiral on 18 October 1770, a KB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 1772, and admiral on 29 January 1778. He had suffered from gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
since the 1760s, and his health had been steadily declining. The attacks had become violent by 1777. His last public duty was to join his old commander Edward Hawke in signing a protest against the holding of a court-martial against Admiral Augustus Keppel
Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel
Admiral Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel PC was an officer of the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the War of American Independence...
in December 1778. John Moore died two months later, on 2 February 1779.