Henry Rosewell

Posted by Cy on Friday 23rd of February 2018 16:23

To be clear: flag ranks before 1805, in order of seniority are.
1/ Admiral of the Fleet
2/ Admiral of the White
3/ Admiral of the Blue
4/ Vice-Admiral of the Red
5/ Vice-Admiral of the White
6/ Vice-Admiral of the Blue
7/ Rear-Admiral of the Red
8/ Rear-Admiral of the White
9/ Rear-Admiral of the Blue

Admirals fly their squadron coloured flag on the main-mast, Vice-admirals on the fore-mast and rear-admirals on the mizzen. The admiral of the fleet flies the royal standard instead of a squadron colour.

Posted by Cy on Friday 23rd of February 2018 16:20

Also you have your RN squadron and ranks all mixed up. There are indeed three squadrons, in decending order of importance, Red, White and Blue. Each squadron has three ranks, Admirals, Vice-Admirals and Rear-admirals in order of seniority. Except that there is no Admiral of the Red Squadron until 1805, that position being taken by the Adniral of the Fleet. Originally there was only one officer of each of the nine ranks. There is officially no Yellow squadron, that is a colloquial name given to admirals of any rank on the retired list.

Posted by Cy on Friday 23rd of February 2018 16:12

The source is as quoted and the date of death is that given by it, and, as you state, several other naval references. There's an interesting conflict here between 'official' sources and general publications.

Btw it is Thomas Knowler (not Knowles), d.1783 as a superannuated Rear-Admiral.

Posted by Derek T. rowswell on Thursday 22nd of February 2018 14:48

is there any indication where he was born, his family, ancestors or descendants?? My Dad (J C rowswell) was RN during WW2. I was born Gillingham, Kent england

Posted by Colin Rosewell on Friday 28th of November 2014 00:12

Henry Rosewell is listed in various naval records as dying 9 May 1771 but I am not sure, especially since I found Henry Rosewell as Rear-Admiral on the half-pay list in The Royal Kalendar for 1783 (correct list up to 31 Oct 1780).
Furthermore, Admiral Rosewell is listed here:
St James’ Chronicle or the British Evening Post, Sept 15-18, 1781
Admiral Rosewell, who has concerted the Signals for the Navy for some Time past, is gone out third in Command under Admiral Darby, the Grand Fleet being composed of three Divisions.
(then as a little historical aside, on the very next line, Capt. Horatio Nelson is appointed to the command of the Albemarle).
Perhaps he died in the action at Gibraltar.
And
Eighteenth century British Navy had four type of Rear Admirals. The "red" was titled "Admiral", the "white" was titled "Rear Admiral," the "blue" was titled "Vice Admiral" and "yellow" for "Retired" from service with a pension due to old age or a health disability. This is commonly referred to as "superannuated."
The Rear Admirals Superannuated upon half pay of 17s 6d a day included nineteen men (Esquires) in 1781: Roger Martin, Hon. G. Murray, Thorpe Fowke, Polycarp. Taylor, Robert Robinson, George Elliot, John Hardy, Ed. Falkingham, Henry Dive, W. Bladwell, Charles Knowles, Robert Jefferyes, Henry Rosewell, T. Knowler (Knowles?), John Hale, Richard Knight, I. Galbraith, John Harrison, and M. Whitwell.
Could you please confirm your source for DoD