Sir Samuel Cornish, 1st Baronet

Not to be confused with Samuel Cornish, African-American abolitionist.

Sir Samuel Cornish, 1st Baronet (ca. 1715 – 30 October 1770) was a British naval commander who fought in the Seven Years' War and conquered Manila on October 6, 1762.

A Lieutenant in 1739, he served at Cartagena in 1741 and in the Mediterranean between 1742 and 1744.

Seven Years War

Main article: Great Britain in the Seven Years War

In 1759 Samuel Cornish took part in some battles against the French. When Spain entered the war early in 1762 Cornish was appointed Rear-Admiral of an East Indies Squadron, who, together with soldiers of the 79th Regiment under William Draper were ordered to attack the Spaniards in the Philippines.

In the following Battle of Manila the city was taken after a siege of 10 days. This victory made Cornish a very rich man.

He saw no further service after this battle. He became vice-admiral in October 1762, was MP for New Shoreham between 1765 and 1770 and was created a baronet in 1766, a title which became extinct upon his death.

In 1765 Cornish purchased Tofte Manor, Sharnbrook, in Bedfordshire.^[1]

He left his large fortune to his nephew Captain Samuel Pitchford, who at the head of HMS America , had also taken part in the capture of Manila.

The town Cornish in New Hampshire was named after him.

Sources

• NY Times
• Leigh Rayment's List of Baronets

References

1. ^ Tofte Manor, Sharnbrook, in Bedfordshire

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by The Lord Pollington The Viscount Midleton	Member of Parliament for New Shoreham with The Lord Pollington 1765-1768 Peregrine Cust 1768-1770 1765–1770	Succeeded by Peregrine Cust John Purling
Baronetage of Great Britain
New creation	Baronet (of Sharnbrook) 1766-1770	Extinct