COMMANDER // 1739–1808
Francis Reynolds
Lifespan
1739 – 1808
Active service 1778 — 1 battle across 1 war; first command at age 39.
Profile
Captain Francis Reynolds-Moreton, 3rd Baron Ducie was a Royal Navy officer and politician who represented Lancaster in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1784 to 1785. He is best known for his service in the American War of Independence and Fourth Anglo-Dutch War. Reynolds fought at the 1777 Battle of Red Bank during the Philadelphia campaign. During the battle, he was commander of a British squadron onboard HMS Augusta in an attempt to clear the way along the Delaware River to Philadelphia. His ship ran aground while being pursued by American Commodore John Hazelwood's squadron, and Augusta mysteriously caught fire shortly thereafter and exploded before all of the crew could abandon ship. Reynolds also commanded HMS Jupiter and HMS Monarch in several operations and saw service against the French and Dutch in the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
Battles (1)
1778
Action of 20 October 1778Anglo-French War of 1778–1783 · Great Britain