Samuel Graves (*1713 †1787) was a British Admiral who fought for the British in the American Revolution.

Genealogy

The family of Graves is one of the most ancient in England. This family is believed to have used the name De Grava in Bordeaux, Gascony. It went in with the Norman army, and settled in Yorkshire. The name underwent several changes, and its members have been De Grevis, De Greves, Greve, Grave, Greaves, Greeves, and Graves.

The first recorded family seat was known as Greves or Greaves, in the parish of Beeley, near Chatsworth, in the northern part of Derbyshire, where the family resided as early as the reign of Henry III (1216-1272).

Many of the descendants of the different branches of the family went, from time to time, to London and other cities in Great Britain, and to the Colonies, and notably to the American Colonies, in the score of years from 1629 to 1649. Samuel Graves was one of the family members in the 8th generation in North America.

Life

Samuel Graves was born in 1713 and married Elizabeth Sedgwick, daughter of John Sedgwick of Staindrop (County Durham). After Elizabeth's death in 1767 he married again in 1769, his second wife being Margaret Spinkes, daughter of Elmer Spinkes of Aldwinkle in Northamptonshire und elder sister of Elizabeth Simcoe. He had no children, just a ward (daughter of his late sister-in-law) who married his godson John Graves Simcoe, who later became first Governor General of Upper Canada. Samuel Graves died at his estate at Hembury Fort, Honiton, Devon.

Profession

• 1774: Admiral Samuel Graves goes to North America

• 1774: Vice-Admiral Samuel Graves is stationed in Preston in North America

• June 1774-January 1776: Vice-Admiral Samuel Graves is commander of the North American Squadron of the Royal Navy

• 1775 June 17: Admiral Samuel Graves commands the fleet elements within the harbor of Boston in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

• 1775 October 6: Admiral Samuel Graves orders Falmouth in the British colony of Maine to be bombarded which is destroyed by Captain Henry Mowat, master of the British armed vessel Canceaux, on October 18.

• 1781 September 5: Admiral Samuel Graves arrives at Chesapeake Bay and engages the French fleet in the Battle of Yorktown