Sir Peter Parker | |
|---|---|
 Portrait by Lemuel Francis Abbott, c. 1799 | |
| Born | 1721 Kingdom of Ireland |
| Died | 21 December 1811 (aged 89-90) Weymouth Street, London |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  Great Britain United Kingdom |
| Service |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1743–1763, 1773–1811 |
| Rank | Admiral of the Fleet |
| Commands | HMS Margate HMS Woolwich HMS Bristol HMS Buckingham HMS Terrible HMS Barfleur Jamaica Station Portsmouth Command |
| Battles / wars | War of Jenkins' Ear War of the Austrian Succession Seven Years' War American Revolutionary War |
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Peter Parker, 1st Baronet (1721 – 21 December 1811) was a Royal Navy officer. As a junior officer, he was deployed with a squadron under Admiral Edward Vernon to the West Indies at the start of the War of Jenkins' Ear. He saw action again at the Battle of Toulon during the War of the Austrian Succession. As captain of the fourth-rate HMS Bristol he took part in the Invasion of Guadeloupe during the Seven Years' War.
As a commodore, he was deployed to the North American Station, to provide naval support for an expedition led by General Sir Henry Clinton reinforcing loyalists in the Southern Colonies at an early stage of the American Revolutionary War. He led a naval attack against the fortifications on Sullivan's Island (later called Fort Moultrie after their commander), protecting Charleston, South Carolina. However, after a long and hard-fought battle, Parker was forced to call off the attack, having sustained heavy casualties, including the loss of a ship. He subsequently served under Lord Howe in the invasion and capture of New York City and commanded the squadron that captured Long Island and Rhode Island.
Parker went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Jamaica, before being returned as Member of Parliament for Seaford and then as member for Maldon. He later became Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.