Kenelm Somerville, 17th Lord Somerville


Lord Somerville
Born14 November 1787
Bath, Somerset
Died19 October 1864, aged 76
Newbold Comyn
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1801–1846
RankAdmiral
CommandsHMS Sourabaya
HMS Thames
Battles / wars
AwardsNaval General Service Medal with two clasps
Drum House, Gilmerton, Scotland, family seat of the Lords Somerville

Admiral Kenelm Somerville, 17th Lord Somerville (14 November 1787 – 19 October 1864) was a Royal Navy officer and Scottish hereditary peer. He joined the navy in 1801 and served throughout the Napoleonic Wars, fighting at the invasion of Isle de France, Battle of Tamatave, and invasion of Java. He was promoted to commander in 1811 and in 1813 took command of the troopship HMS Thames which he sailed to North America to fight in the War of 1812. Promoted to post-captain in 1814, he commanded a flotilla in the expedition that burned Washington. Somerville retired from the navy in 1846 and continued to be promoted on the retired list, becoming an admiral in 1862. He inherited the title of Lord Somerville from his brother in 1842 and died at Newbold Comyn in 1864 at the age of 76.