Marriott Arbuthnot
Admiral Marriott Arbuthnot, RN (1711–31 January 1794) was a British admiral, who commanded the Royal Navy's North American station during the American War for Independence.
A native of Weymouth, England, Arbuthnot was the son of Robert Arbuthnot and Sarah, née Bury. The father was the son of the Rev. Robert Arbuthnot, minister of Chrichton & Cranston. Marriott Arbuthnot entered the Royal Navy in the late 1720s, became a lieutenant in 1739, commander in 1746 and post captain in 1747. In 1759, during the Seven Years' War, he commanded The Portland, one of the ships employed under Commodore Robert Duff in the blockade of Quiberon Bay, and was present at the total defeat of the French on 20 November.
From 1775 to 1778 he was naval commissioner resident at Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1779 he was made vice admiral, and commander-in-chief on the American station. Soon after arriving at his destination he was blockaded in New York City harbor by the French fleet under Count d'Estaing.
In December 1779, Arbuthnot conveyed the troops of Sir Henry Clinton to Charleston, South Carolina, and cooperated with him in laying siege to that city. He advanced by seniority to become, in February 1793, admiral of the blue. He died in London the following year, leaving two sons, John and Charles.
Admiral Arbuthnot is thought to have been related to Dr. John Arbuthnot, the satirist and mathematician.
External links
- Biography of Mariot Arbuthnot (alternate spelling), from the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online