Admiral Sir David Milne | |
|---|---|
%2c_by_George_Frederick_Clarke.jpg) Admiral Sir David Milne (George Frederick Clarke, 1828) | |
| Born | May 1763 Musselburgh, East Lothian |
| Died | 5 May 1845(1845-05-05) (aged 82) At sea returning toScotland |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1779–1845 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands | HMSQuebec HMSAlarm HMSInspector HMSMatilda HMSPique HMSSeine Firth of ForthSea Fencibles HMSImpetueux HMSDublin HMYRoyal Charlotte HMSVenerable HMSBulwark North American Station Plymouth Command |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of theOrder of the Bath |
AdmiralSir David MilneGCBFRSE (May 1763 – 5 May 1845) was a ScottishRoyal Navy admiral.
Milne was born inMusselburgh,Midlothian,Scotland, the son of Susan Vernor and David Milne, anEdinburgh merchant.[1]
He entered theRoyal Navy as amidshipman in 1779.[2] He served in theWest Indies from 1779 to 1783, seeing action in theCaribbean during theAmerican Revolutionary War and inLord Howe's final relief of the French and Spanish siege ofGibraltar in 1782.[2] From 1783 to 1793, he served in theEast Indies. Promoted tocommander, he defeated a French division offPuerto Rico on 5 June 1795, and, in 1796, he participated in the capture of the Dutch colonies ofDemerara,Essequibo andBerbice, becoming the British governor ofNetherlands Guiana. He continued to fight against the French inSanto Domingo, from 1797 to 1799, losing his shipHMSPique but capturing the French frigateSeine at theaction of 30 June 1798 and, in 1800, he captured the FrenchfrigateLa Vengeance off the coast of Africa.[2]
On 14 June 1814, he was promoted toRear-Admiral.[2] At this time he purchased 10York Place, Edinburgh, home the lateWilliam Craig, Lord Craig.[3]
He served as second-in-command of thefleet sent to bombard Algiers in 1816.[2] The Dutch king awarded him the commander's cross of the covetedMilitary Order of William for his distinguished conduct. In May 1816, he was appointed to command theNorth American Station,[2] living inHalifax, Nova Scotia. In 1818, he was nominated a knight of theNeapolitanOrder of St Januarius, and he returned to the United Kingdom in 1819. In 1820, he was briefly Member of Parliament forBerwick-upon-Tweed.[4]In 1825 he became a Vice-Admiral.[2]
In 1842, he was appointedCommander-in-Chief, Plymouth.[2] He died at sea 5 May 1845 while returning to Scotland fromPlymouth, after more than 60 years' service in the Royal Navy. He is buried with his first wife in the churchyard atInveresk. Memorial reads.
In memory of Admiral Sir DAVID MILNE, G.C.B., &c., &c., &c. For 60 years he served his country in the Royal Navy ; his gallant deeds are recorded in her annals. In all the relations of private life he was upright, exemplary, and esteemed. He expired at sea on the 5th of May 1845, aged 82 years, whilst returning to his native home from Devonport, at which station he had been for the three previous years Commander-in-Chief.Here are deposited the remains of GRACE, wife of Rear-Admiral David Milne, who died at Bordeaux, in France, the 4th of October 1814, where she had gone for the recovery of her health. Her remains were brought to this country by her affectionate husband, and re-interred here the 18th of February 1815. She was eldest daughter of Sir Alexander Purves of Purves, Bart., by Mary Home, daughter of Sir James Home of Coldinghame, Bart., in the County of Berwick. Also a son, named THOMAS, who died in infancy.
In 1799 he bought the house and grounds of Inveresk Gate inInveresk, where his descendants continued to live until the 1940s.[5]He also had a house at 10 York Place inEdinburgh's New Town in the 1830s.[6]
n 16 April 1804, he was married to Grace Purves, eldest daughter ofSir Alexander Purves, 5th Baronet,[2] ofPurves, by his second wife Mary Home, daughter ofSir James Home, 3rd Baronet, ofColdingham. Their children included advocate and geologistDavid Milne-Home andAdmiral of the FleetSir Alexander Milne, 1st Baronet. His wife died atBordeaux, in France, on 4 October 1814, where she had gone for the recovery of her health. The admiral brought her body back to Scotland, and she was buried atInveresk in East Lothian on 8 February 1815.
On 28 November 1819 he married for a second time, to Agnes Stephen.[2]
Milne Land, in EastGreenland, was named after him byCaptain William Scoresby.
The island can be found 70.87 N, 25.42 W, sits in the large fjordScoresby Sund and covers an area of 3,912.9 km2 (1,510.8 sq mi) with a highest point of 2,103 m (6,900 ft).
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forBerwick-upon-Tweed 1820 With:Viscount Ossulston | Succeeded by |
| Military offices | ||
| Preceded by | Commander-in-Chief, North American Station 1816 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth 1842–1845 | Succeeded by |
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