Charles Holmes

Posted by Jon Miller on Thursday 21st of May 2026 19:39

London, 22 January 1750: At a Court-Martial held on board his Majesty’s yacht the Charlotte on he 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th of Jan 1749, present William Rowley, Esq; Rear-Admiral, of Great Britain, and Admiral of the White Squadron of his Majesty’s fleet, President, Sir Edward Hawke, Vice-Admiral of the Blue, the Hon John Forbes, Rear-Admiral of the White, Capt George Bridges Rodney, Capt Merrick Delangle, Capt Thomas Struton, Capt William Parry, Capt William Buckle.
The Court in pursuance of an order from he Right Hon the Lords of the Admiralty to William Rowley, Esq; dated the 1st of last month, proceeded to enquire into the conduct and behaviour of Capt Charles Holmes, upon a charge exhibited against him by ear Admiral Knowles for bad conduct, breach of orders, disobedience to signals, and not doing his utmost to take and engage a Spanish squadron in an action before the Havanna, on the 1st of October 1748; and having heard the witnesses produced both by Mr Knowles and the prisoner, and thoroughly considered their evjdence, the Court do unanimously agree, that it hath appeared, that Capt Holmes behaved like a good and gallant officer during the whole action; that he likewise shewed very good conduct for the preservation of his convoy when he fell in with the Spanish squadron, a day or two before the action, and also great zeal for his King and Country, in quitting his homeward course to go in quest of Rear Admiral Knowles, in order to inform him of that squadron, and to strengthen with the addition of his ship, the better to enable him to engage them, when he had at the same time not only a large part of his own fortune on board the ship, but was pressed by the passengers to proceed directly home. The Court do therefore unanimously agree to acquit Capt Holmes with honour, of every part of the charge exhibited against him, and he is accordingly hereby honourably acquitted.
Charles Fearne, Judge Advocate William Rowley, Edward Hawke, J Forbes, G B Rodney, M Delangle, Thomas Struton, William Parry, Matthew Buckle.
[Kentish Post, 24 January]

Posted by Tony Willoughby on Friday 4th of August 2017 14:44

apologies - I was confusing him with Charles Holmes - sorry