10 Facts About Francis Hosier

Francis Hosier was a lieutenant on Rooke's flagship at the Battle of Barfleur in 1693.

Francis Hosier captured the Heureux off Cape Clear in 1710 and distinguished himself in action with the Spanish off Cartagena in 1711.

Francis Hosier is chiefly remembered for his role in the failure of the Blockade of Porto Bello, for which poor Government orders were largely responsible, during which he died of disease alongside thousands of his sailors.

Francis Hosier became a lieutenant in the navy in 1692, when he was appointed to the Winchelsea, a 32-gun new frigate, after being in that station on board different ships for four years.

Captain Francis Hosier was only 26 years old in 1699, when he arranged for the Greenwich residence today known as The Ranger's House to be built, by which time he had commanded only one ship, the Winchelsea, of 74 guns.

At first Francis Hosier met with success in his Blockade of Porto Bello.

Yellow fever broke out and Francis Hosier himself died of the fever, whilst on the Breda off Vera Cruz, as did between 3,000 and 4,000 of his sailors.

Francis Hosier afterwards removed to Carthagena, and remained cruising in these seas, till far the greater part of his men perished deplorably by the diseases of that unhealthy climate.

Francis Hosier was replaced by two further admirals, who likewise successively perished of tropical diseases.

Francis Hosier's body was given a temporary burial-place in the ballast of his flagship, the Breda, where it remained, until it was despatched to England, late in the year, on board the snow the Happy Return, under Commander Henry Fowkes.