Sir Robert Kingsmill, 1st Baronet

Admiral of the Blue Sir Robert Brice Kingsmill, 1st Baronet (1730 – 23 November 1805) was a Royal Navy officer and politician who served in the Seven Years' War, American War of Independence and French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Kingsmill was a contemporary and close friend of Horatio Nelson, and was one of the Royal Navy officers referred to as "The Conquerors of the Seas", illustrated in Piercy Roberts' 1800 engraving. He served with George Rodney in the West Indies, where he was wounded in battle, and with Augustus Keppel at the Battle of Ushant.

He took the time to embark on a career in politics as a Member of Parliament, giving this up several times to resume his service in the Navy when war broke out. Kingsmill rose to flag rank by the time of the outbreak of war with revolutionary France in 1793. As the naval commander-in-chief on the coast of Ireland, he repelled several attempts by the French to invade Ireland and foment insurrection. Kingsmill died on 23 November 1805 at Sydmonton Court as a baronet and with the rank of Admiral of the Blue.

Family and early life He was born in Belfast as Robert Brice, the son of Captain Charles Brice, of Castle Chichester, and his wife Jane. He followed his father into the navy, joining the 14-gun sloop as an able seaman on 29 October 1746. Kingsmill passed his lieutenant's examination on 5 July 1754 and received his commission on 29 April 1756. He then returned to the Basilisk and sailed to the West Indies with Rear-Admiral George Rodney's fleet. Brice assisted with the assaults on Martinique and St Lucia, during which he was wounded. Brice's rewards for his good services were a promotion to post-captain on 26 May 1762, and an appointment to command the 28-gun sixth rate . He retired from active naval service and spent the years of peace enjoying his newly acquired wealth and status.

Active service and political career

The outbreak of war with France in 1778 during the American War of Independence led to his return to active service. He accepted command of the 64-gun and formed part of Admiral Augustus Keppel's fleet at the Battle of Ushant on 27 July 1778.

He took this opportunity to resume his parliamentary career, being elected to the constituency of Tregony on 5 April 1784, holding the seat until 1790. As contemporaries in the service, Sir Robert and Horatio Nelson developed a close friendship that lasted until Nelson's death at Trafalgar on 21 October 1805.

French Revolutionary Wars

The outbreak of war with revolutionary France led to a general promotion of Royal Navy officers on 1 February 1793. The forces at his disposal consisted of two ships of the line, seven frigates and four smaller vessels, which he quickly put to use combating the swarms of enemy cruisers that operated in these waters. He was still on station in Cork in 1796 and played a role in the defeat of the French Expédition d'Irlande that year. Kingsmill was rewarded on 24 November 1800 with a baronetcy as a gesture of appreciation from King George III for his long years of service.