Matthew Buckle

Matthew Buckle
Admiral Matthew Buckle
Born	1716
Died	9 July 1784
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	Royal Navy
Rank	Admiral
Commands	HMS Russell HMS Assistance HMS Unicorn HMS Swiftsure HMS Invincible HMS Royal George HMS Namur The Downs
Battles / wars	War of Jenkins' Ear Seven Years' War

Admiral Matthew Buckle (1716 – 9 July 1784) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, the Downs from 1778 to 1779.

Naval career

Promoted to captain on 29 May 1745,^[1] Buckle was given command of the third-rate HMS Russell on promotion and took part in the capture of the Spanish ship Glorioso on 8 October 1747.^[1] He went on to take command of the fourth-rate HMS Assistance in 1749, the sixth-rate HMS Unicorn in 1753 and the third-rate HMS Swiftsure in 1756.^[2] After that he was given command of the third-rate HMS Invincible later in 1756, the first-rate HMS Royal George in 1757 and the second-rate HMS Namur in 1758.^[2] In Namur he took part in the Battle of Lagos in August 1759, the Battle of Quiberon Bay in November 1759 and the action of 17 July 1761^[3] and the attack on Havana in June 1762.^[2]

Promoted to rear-admiral on 18 October 1770, Buckle became second-in-command at Spithead in 1770.^[1] Promoted to vice-admiral on 31 March 1775, he became commander-in-chief the Downs in 1778^[1] before being promoted to full admiral on 26 September 1780.^[2]

References

1. "The Buckle Papers". The National Archives. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
2. "Mathew Buckle (1716–1784)". Three Decks. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
3. Clowes, p. 305

Sources

• Clowes, William Laird (1997) [1900]. The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, Volume III. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-012-4.

Military offices
Preceded by John Elliot	Commander-in-Chief, The Downs 1778–1779	Succeeded by Francis Drake