George Elliot (1784–1863)
| Sir George Elliot | |
|---|---|
Portrait by George Hayter, 1834
|
|
| Born | 1 August 1784 |
| Died | 24 June 1863 (aged 78) Kensington, London |
| Buried at | Kensal Green Cemetery, London |
| Allegiance |
 Great Britain United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy
|
| Years of service | 1794–1863 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held |
Nore Command East Indies and China Station Cape of Good Hope Station HMS Victory HMS Hussar HMS Modeste HMS Aurora HMS Combatant HMS Maidstone HMS Termagant |
| Battles/wars |
|
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
| Relations |
Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto (father) Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 2nd Earl of Minto (brother) George Elliot (son) Charles Elliot (cousin) |
Admiral Sir George Elliot KCB (1 August 1784 – 24 June 1863) was a Royal Navy officer who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and the First Opium War.
Elliot was born to influential and distinguished family that included several powerful politicians and diplomats. After entering the navy at an early age he served through several of the decisive battles of the French Revolutionary Wars, seeing action at Genoa, Hyères, and Cape St Vincent and under Nelson at the Nile and Copenhagen. He had graduated to his own commands by the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars, being described by Nelson as one of the best officers in the navy, and served with distinction in the Mediterranean and in the East Indies, where he took part in the Invasion of Java. Left without significant employment after the end of the wars with France, Elliot took up politics, with the support of the Duke of Clarence and his relatives already in government office.
Elliot briefly represented Roxburghshire in Parliament, and served as Secretary to the Admiralty and later one of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. He briefly returned to active naval service with his elevation to flag rank, and commanded the station at the Cape of Good Hope. He went out to superintend operations in China during the First Opium War, but failed to make any decisive difference, and returned to Britain. Here he found factional politics had reduced his and his relations' former influence in government, and he thereafter only served in a minor capacity in the navy, and did not return to government office. He died in 1863, having risen by seniority to the rank of admiral, fathered a large family which included high-ranking military officers, and their spouses, and having made a distinct contribution to naval policy during his time in politics.
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