Charles Phipps (Royal Navy officer)
| Hon. Charles Phipps | |
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The Hon. Charles Phipps, attributed to Thomas Gainsborough
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| Born | 10 December 1753 |
| Died | 20 October 1786 (aged 32) Mulgrave Castle, Yorkshire |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/branch | Royal Navy |
| Rank | Captain |
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| Battles/wars | |
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Hon. Charles Phipps (10 December 1753 – 20 October 1786) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He served during the American War of Independence, seeing action in a number of battles and engagements. He also went on to have a career in Parliament.
Born into a family with naval and parliamentary connections, Phipps integrated them both into a short career. He promoted to his first commands during the American War of Independence, commanding a range of small ships off the North American coast and being active against American shipping. He spent the later part of the wars in European waters, commanding frigates, and supporting the fleets. He took part in the first relief of Gibraltar in 1781, and the second in 1782. By then he was captain of a 74-gun ship of the line. He retired ashore after the war, and having embarked on a political career, represented both Scarborough and Minehead before his death at a relatively young age, in 1786.
Charles Phipps was born on 10 December 1753, the second son of Constantine Phipps, 1st Baron Mulgrave and his wife Lepell. His elder brother, Constantine, and his younger brother, Henry, both went on to be politicians, with Constantine also serving as a naval officer. Charles Phipps also entered the navy, and after seeing some service, was promoted to lieutenant on 19 January 1771. He is first recorded as having commissioned the fireship HMS Strombolo in February 1776, and having sailed for North America in May that year. The American War of Independence was being fought at this time, and after brief service on the station, Phipps was promoted to post-captain on 1 August 1776. His first command at this level was to temporarily take over the 20-gun HMS Perseus, succeeding her regular captain, George Elphinstone, from August that year.
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