Sir Richard Bickerton, 1st Baronet
| Sir Richard Bickerton, 1st Baronet | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 June 1727 |
| Died | 25 February 1792 (aged 64) |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of Great Britain
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy
|
| Years of service | 1746–1792 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands held |
Etna Culloden Glasgow Lively Marlborough Princess Augusta Terrible Fortitude Princess Augusta (again) Leeward Islands Station Plymouth Command |
| Battles/wars |
Battle of Ushant (1778) Battle of Cuddalore |
| Other work | Member of Parliament for Rochester (1790–1792) |
Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton, 1st Baronet (23 June 1727 – 25 February 1792) was a British naval officer who finished his career as a rear admiral in the Royal Navy and was ennobled as the first Baronet Bickerton of Upwood. He served in several naval engagements, and died Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth in 1792. His son Richard Hussey Bickerton, who likewise rose to flag rank in th eRoyal Navy, succeeded to the baronetcy following his death.
Richard Bickerton was educated at Westminster School, and was first commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy on 8 February 1746 at the age of 18. He served as a Lieutenant aboard the 60-gun fourth rate Worcester in 1748. On 2 August 1758 he was appointed Master and Commander of the fireship Etna, and then on 21 August 1759 promoted to the rank of Captain and appointed to command the 74-gun third rate Culloden. However, he was swiftly removed into the much smaller 20-gun sixth rate Glasgow, in command of which he sailed on 25 April 1760 for the West Indies. Returning to England in 1761, he commanded the similar 20-gun Lively for a short while.
In 1767 Bickerton was appointed to command the 30-gun fifth rate Renown, again for employment to the West Indies. At the start of 1771 he took command of the 74-gun third rate Marlborough, remaining in this post for nearly three years. He was knighted on 24 June 1773. He subsequently commanded the Royal yacht Princess Augusta, and from October 1776 the 74-gun third rate Terrible; while aboard the latter he captured the American privateer Rising States on 15 April 1777 while cruising off Ushant. He was created the 1st Baronet Bickerton of Upwood on 29 May 1778, and while still commanding the Terrible distinguished himself at the Battle of Ushant on 27 July 1778.
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