Philip Patton

Philip Patton was a Royal Navy officer.

Naval career

Educated at Kirkcaldy's grammar school, Patton joined the Royal Navy in 1755. As a junior officer he saw action at the Battle of Lagos in August 1759, the Battle of Quiberon Bay in November 1759 and the attack on Havana in June 1762. Promoted to commander in May 1778, he was given command of the bomb vessel HMS Aetna at that time and of the second-rate HMS [Prince George (1772)|HMS Prince George] the following year.
Promoted to captain in March 1779, he commanded Prince George at the action of [8 January 1780|attack on the Caracas Convoy] and the Battle of Cape [St. Vincent (1780)|Battle of Cape St. Vincent] in January 1780. He was given command of the fifth-rate French frigate [Belle Poule (1766)|HMS Belle Poule] in February 1781 and commanded her at the Battle of [Dogger Bank (1781)|Battle of Dogger Bank] in August 1781. Promoted to admiral (Royal Navy)|rear-admiral] on 1 June 1795 and to vice-admiral on 1 January 1801, he became commander-in-chief Downs Station in 1803 and a List of [Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty|Naval Lord] in May 1804 before being promoted to full admiral on 4 June 1814.