Jonathan Faulknor the elder
| Jonathan Faulknor | |
|---|---|
| Died | 24 June 1795 London |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/branch | Royal Navy |
| Rank | Admiral of the Blue |
| Commands held | |
| Battles/wars | |
| Relations | Robert Faulknor (nephew) |
Jonathan Faulknor (fl. 1744 – 24 June 1795) was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary Wars, in a career which spanned fifty years.
The son of a distinguished naval officer, Jonathan Faulknor continued the family tradition and forged a career in the navy. He was made an officer prior to the Seven Years' War and commanded his first ships before it ended. His service was punctuated by periods without command of a ship, and times as captain of guardships. Nevertheless he was able to impress his superiors with his services, including his cool handling of a crisis when his ship ran aground off Cork. He was back in command of ships during the American War of Independence, and was flag captain to Admiral Keppel at the battle of Ushant in 1778. He captained several other ships during the war, relieving Gibraltar in 1782 with Howe and seeing action at the Battle of Cape Spartel.
Promoted to flag rank after the war, he rose to be admiral of the blue before his death in 1795, during the French Revolutionary Wars, having only once hoisted his flag, during the period of the Spanish Armament in 1791.
Jonathan Faulknor was born into a substantial naval dynasty of the 18th century. His grandfather, William Faulknor, had commanded ships during the War of the Spanish Succession, while his father, Samuel Faulknor, had commanded HMS Victory, and was killed when she foundered in a storm in 1744. Two of Jonathan's brothers, Samuel and Robert, rose to command several ships during the Seven Years' War, while his nephew, also called Robert, died in combat while fighting a French frigate. Jonathan Faulknor also embarked on a career in the navy, and after seeing some service, was promoted to lieutenant on 24 August 1753. He saw service in the Seven Years' War and on 28 September 1758 was promoted to commander and appointed to the bomb vessel HMS Furnace. He commanded Furnace in Commodore Augustus Keppel's force at the Capture of Gorée in December 1758, and on 9 July 1759 he was commissioned as a post-captain and took command of the 20-gun HMS Mercury.
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