Hugh Palliser

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Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser, 1st Baronet, RN (22 February 1722 – 19 March 1796) was an 18th-century governor of Newfoundland, born at Kirk Deighton, West Yorkshire, England died in Buckinghamshire.

Contents 1 Naval career 2 Governor of Newfoundland 3 Association with James Cook 4 See also 5 External link

[edit] Naval career

• Orphaned at a young age, he first served in the Royal Navy under his uncle Nicholas Robinson, aboard HMS Aldborough - when he was just eleven years old.
• In September 1741 he was promoted to Lieutenant.
• In 1746, he was promoted to Captain of the HMS Captain.
• During the War of the Austrian Succession, he was wounded while in command of the HMS Sutherland - he experienced pain in his left leg from this wound for the rest of his life.
• During the Seven Years' War, he took command of the HMS Eagle.
• In 1759, he took command of the HMS Shrewsbury, during the siege of Quebec, where he led a landing party.
• In 1762, he was sent in command of a squadron in response to the French capture of St. John's.
• In 1764, Commodore Palliser was appointed Governor of Newfoundland, a post he held for four years.
• From 1770 to 1776, Palliser was the Comptroller of the Navy. During his term, he helped outfit several voyages of exploration, including those of Cook.
• In 1773, Palliser was created a Baronet.
• In 1774, he was elected to Parliament for the Borough of Scarborough.
• In 1775, he was promoted to Rear Admiral, based solely on seniority. Shortly thereafter he became one of the Lords of the Admiralty. In addition he was appointed Lieutenant General of Marines, a sinecure.
• In 1778, he was promoted to Vice Admiral, another promotion due to seniority. He was placed third in command of the Home Fleet.
• Bad blood over his role in an indecisive battle off Ushant led to his dismissal. A mob attacked his London house. He resigned his seat in Parliament, and his other posts.
• In 1780, Lord Sandwich, the First Lord of the Admiralty, appointed him Governor of Greenwich Hospital, another sinecure, which he held for the rest of his life. He was also re-elected to Parliament, for the borough of Huntingdon, from 1780 to 1784.
• Palliser's seniority brought him promotion to full Admiral in 1787.

[edit] Governor of Newfoundland

Palliser served as Governor of Newfoundland, and Commodore of the Newfoundland squadron from 1764 to 1768.

Palliser took active steps to restrict the French to their treaty fishing right. He worked to cultivate friendly relations with the native people of Labrador. He took steps to restrict further settlement of Newfoundland, to support the fishers based in Britain, who paid taxes in Britain, and who trained seamen who could serve in the Royal Navy in Times of war.

[edit] Association with James Cook

James Cook, who was later to become a famous explorer of the Pacific and Southern Oceans, had previously served under Palliser, as a Master's Mate, when Palliser was Captain of the HMS Eagle. The previous Governor of Newfoundland, Thomas Graves, had appointed Cook to survey the Newfoundland coast. But Cook completed his survey during Palliser's administration. Cook's very accurate maps continued to be used for over two hundred years.

During his term as Comptroller Palliser helped outfit Cook's voyages of exploration.

Cook named the Palliser Isles and Cape Palliser after his "worthy friend".

[edit] See also

• Governors of Newfoundland
• List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador

[edit] External link

• Biography at Government House The Governorship of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Sir James Pennyman, Bt The Earl of Tyrconnel	Member of Parliament for Scarborough with The Earl of Tyrconnel 1774–1779	Succeeded by The Earl of Tyrconnel Charles Phipps
Preceded by George Wombwell The Lord Mulgrave	Member of Parliament for Huntingdon with The Lord Mulgrave 1780–1784	Succeeded by Sir Walter Rawlinson Launcelot Brown
Political offices
Preceded by Thomas Graves	Commodore Governor of Newfoundland 1764–1768	Succeeded by John Byron
Baronetage of Great Britain
New Title	Baronet (of The Vache) 1773–1796	Succeeded by Hugh Palliser