Sir Robert Laurie, 6th Baronet
| Robert Laurie, 6th Baronet | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 May 1764 |
| Died | 7 January 1848 Maxwelton House, Dumfriesshire |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| Service/branch | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1780–1848 |
| Rank | Admiral of the White |
| Commands held |
HMS Zephyr HMS Andromache HMS Cleopatra HMS Milan HMS Ajax |
| Battles/wars | Glorious First of June |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
Sir Robert Laurie, 6th Baronet KCB (25 May 1764 – 7 January 1848) was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He rose through the ranks after his entry, fighting as a lieutenant under Howe at the Glorious First of June, and being wounded in the action. Shortly after he served in the West Indies and off the American coast, where he operated successfully against enemy raiders and privateers, he was rewarded with the command of the frigate HMS Cleopatra, and in 1805 fought an action with a superior French opponent, Ville de Milan. He was forced to surrender his ship after several hours of fighting, but so heavily damaged the Frenchman that both she and the captured British vessel were taken shortly afterwards when another British frigate HMS Leander, arrived on the scene. Rewarded for his valour and honourably acquitted for the loss of his ship, he served throughout the rest of the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to flag rank after the end of the wars, eventually dying in 1848 with the rank of Admiral of the White. He inherited a baronetcy in 1804, but this became extinct upon his death.
Robert Laurie was born on 25 May 1764, the son of Sir Robert Laurie and his wife Mary Elizabeth Ruthven. He entered the navy in 1780, spending 10 years as midshipman before being promoted to lieutenant in 1790. He was a lieutenant aboard the 90-gun second rate HMS Queen and fought in the Glorious First of June in 1794, during which action he was wounded.
He received a promotion in June the following year, rising to the rank of commander and being given the sloop HMS Zephyr. He served in the North Sea before being ordered to the Leeward Islands towards the end of 1796. While sailing there he came across the 12-gun privateer Refléche and captured her on 8 January 1797. He went on to take part in the reduction of Trinidad in February 1797, making several other captures of privateers during the rest of the year; the 4-gun Vengeur des Français on 16 June, the 6-gun Légère on 6 July and the 2-gun Va-Tout on 8 July. On 17 July 1798 Laurie received a promotion to post-captain.
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