Nicholas Haddock
| Nicholas Haddock | |
|---|---|
Nicholas Haddock
|
|
| Born | 1686 |
| Died | 26 September 1746 (aged 59–60) Wrotham Park, Kent |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of Great Britain
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy
|
| Years of service | 1699–1746 |
| Rank | Admiral of the Blue |
| Commands held | Mediterranean Fleet |
| Battles/wars | |
Nicholas Haddock (1686 – 26 September 1746) was an admiral in the Royal Navy and Commander-in-Chief of Britain's naval forces in the Mediterranean between 1738 and 1742. Despite an active and successful early and middle career, his reputation was tarnished in 1740 when he failed to prevent the Spanish and French fleets from combining to support an invasion of Italy. Amid public outcry he was forced to resign his naval responsibilities and return to England, where he fell into a melancholic state.
Haddock never returned to sea. He held public office as the Member for the House of Commons electorate of Rochester, but there is no record of him attending parliament or casting a vote. He died at Wrotham Park in Kent, in 1746.
Haddock was born in 1686, the third and youngest son of Sir Richard Haddock, then Controller of the Navy, and his wife Elizabeth. He joined the Royal Navy at thirteen as a volunteer-per-order and was promoted to midshipman three years later. At around this time he also saw his first active service at sea, being present at the Battle of Vigo Bay off Spain in 1702. Promoted to lieutenant, he served at the relief of Barcelona in 1706. On 6 April 1707 he was promoted to the rank of captain and placed in command of the 42-gun fifth-rate HMS Ludlow Castle.
England was at war with France, and Haddock's orders were to hunt for enemy privateers. On 30 December he brought Ludlow Castle into range with two such vessels, Nightingale and Squirrel, both former English merchantmen captured and refitted by the French. Haddock ordered that Ludlow Castle give chase, and was rewarded with the capture of Nightingale. This vessel, Haddock's first prize ship, was returned to England along with her crew. Haddock was also present at the Battle of Cape Passaro off Sicily in 1718; he was Captain of the 70-gun Grafton, and led the attack.
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