Duckworth, John Thomas, Sir

Duckworth entered the navy in 1759 at age 11. He became lieutenant in 1771 and was first lieutenant in 1776 on the Diamond, which was sent to Rhode Island. In 1777, when a shot on board the Diamond killed five men during a salute, Duckworth and the other crew members were court-martialed. They were later acquitted. Duckworth was promoted to commander in 1780, rear admiral in 1799, vice admiral in 1804, and admiral in 1810. Another court-martial was brought against him in 1805 that charged him with trying to turn the Acasta into a merchant ship. He was later acquitted. From 1810 to 1813, he was governor and commander-in-chief of Newfoundland. He was created baronet in 1813.

From the description of Duckworth papers, 1785-1908. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702147329

Sir John Thomas Duckworth (1748-1817) was a British naval officer.

From the description of Sir John Thomas Duckworth papers, 1805-1811. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 612808827

From the guide to the Sir John Thomas Duckworth papers, 1805-1811 and undated., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)

John Thomas Duckworth, a minister's son, was born in Surrey, England on February 28, 1748. He attended Eton at an early age, but left to enter the British Navy when he was eleven. At the outbreak of the American Revolution he was commissioned a first lieutenant, and served in American waters for nearly the duration of the war - achieving his first command in that period. In 1799 Duckworth was promoted to Rear Admiral rank, and in 1810 became a full Admiral. From 1810 to 1813 he served as Governor and Commander-in-Chief in Newfoundland where, according to the Dictionary of National Biography, "he is said to have earned the good opinion of the inhabitants both in his naval and his civil capacity." In 1812 he was elected MP for Romsey, a position he held until his death in 1817. Duckworth was created a Baronet in 1813, and in January of 1817, just shortly before he died, was named Commander-in-Chief at Plymouth.

From the guide to the Duckworth, Sir John Thomas. Papers, 1808-1812, (Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)

Admiral.

Rear-Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth arrived in the Caribbean in June 1800 as Commander-in-Chief of the British naval forces there. In 1801 he defeated Swedish and Danish forces, and was knighted for this. He later defeated a French naval squadron near Santo Domingo, and was promoted to Vice-Admiral. In 1806, he defeated the French Admiral Leissegues, ending the French plans to occupy the region. In 1810, he was promoted to full Admiral, and sent to command British naval forces in Newfoundland.

From the description of Papers, 1801-1807. (University of Florida). WorldCat record id: 48665343

Epithet: Vice-Admiral

Title: 1st Baronet 1813

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000684.0x00013b

Rear-Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth, K.B. (1748-1817) first arrived in the Leeward Islands region of the Caribbean in June of 1800, serving as Commander-in-Chief of the British naval forces deployed there. During March and April of 1801 he orchestrated the defeat of the Swedish and Danish forces stationed on St. Thomas and St. Bartholomew Islands. As reward for this he was knighted into the Order of the Bath on June 6, 1801, after which he returned to England.

With the renewal of conflict with France, Duckworth returned to the Caribbean as Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in Jamaica and the Bahamas. Shortly after his arrival he defeated the French naval squadron under Admiral Rocheambeau off the coast of Santo Domingo. A promotion to Vice-Admiral in April of 1804 followed, after which he returned again to England to face courts-martial charges that where later dropped.

1806 found Duckworth once again back in the Caribbean and facing his old adversary the French. The highlight of his career was his defeat of the French Admiral Leissegues, which dealt a terrible blow to French aspirations in the region and played a major part in their eventual withdrawal from the Caribbean. On his return to England he was granted a pension and his naval feats acknowledged with a wealth of honors, including the Sword of Honor of the City of London.

In 1810 Duckworth was promoted to full Admiral and sent to Canada as Commander-in-Chief of the British naval forces in the Newfoundland and adjacent regions.

From the guide to the John Thomas Duckworth Papers, 1801-1807, (Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida)