- Sir Peter Parker, 2nd Baronet
Captain Sir Peter Parker, 2nd Baronet (
England , 1785 –August 31 ,1814 ,Fairlee, Maryland ) was an English naval officer, the son of Vice-Admiral Christopher Parker and Augusta Byron.Parker was the descendant of several
Royal Navy flag officers. His father was the son of Admiral Sir Peter Parker, and his mother the daughter of Vice-AdmiralJohn Byron . Educated atWestminster School , he entered the Royal Navy in 1798, serving under his grandfather and his grandfather's friend,Lord Nelson in HMS "Victory". He rapidly rose through the ranks, and was promoted to Commander and given command of the armedbrig HMS "Weazel". The "Weazel" was the first British vessel to sight the Franco-Spanish fleet leavingCádiz , an action that precipitated theBattle of Trafalgar . For this service he was promoted Captain.Parker was briefly a
Member of Parliament . He was returned unopposed as a Tory for the Irish borough constituency of Wexford at a by-election held on 3 March 1810. He resigned the seat in 1811 and was replaced at a by-election on 1 July 1811.In 1810, he was given command of the
frigate HMS "Menelaus". He was sent toBermuda in 1814, and from thence to join the British forces in theChesapeake Bay under Admiral SirGeorge Cockburn and took part in the blockade ofBaltimore . A bold and efficient commander, he became known for his ferocity in destroying American farms and property along the Chesapeake. Having for several days raidedKent County, Maryland , he landed a shore party and attempted a night attack on a detachment of Maryland militia atFairlee, Maryland on the night ofAugust 30 ,1814 . Unexpected resistance from the militia precipitated theBattle of Caulk's Field ; while British and American sources differ on the result of the battle, Parker was one of the casualties. Hit (like his grandfather) in the thigh while leading his Marines, he bled to death from thefemoral artery before he could be aided, and died on the field. His body was sent to Bermuda, and subsequently interred at the family vault at St Margaret's, Westminster, a public funeral with military honors being held on both occasions. He was eulogized by his first cousin,Lord Byron .He married Marianne Dallas, daughter of Sir George Dallas, 1st Bt.. They had three sons:
*Commander Sir Peter Parker, 3rd Baronet (1809–1835), promoted commanderMarch 3 ,1834 , then of HMS Vernon
*? Parker (d. bef. 1835)
*George Parker (February 1815 –November 23 ,1817 ), died ofcroup .References
:Political career
*"The Parliaments of England" by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844-50), 2nd edition edited (in one volume) by F.W.S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973)
*"Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922", edited by B.M. Walker (Royal Irish Academy 1978)
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