18 Facts About George Collier

Vice-Admiral Sir George Collier was a Royal Navy officer and politician who saw service during the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary Wars.

George Collier achieved considerable success as one of the senior officers on the North American coast, conducting and organizing several highly effective raids and counter-strikes.

George Collier was superseded however, and returned to Britain to play a role in the closing events of the war in European waters, before moving ashore to start a political career.

George Collier enjoyed a brief return to service with the resumption of war with France, and achieved flag rank, but died shortly afterwards.

George Collier was born into a middle-class family and entered the Royal Navy in 1751.

George Collier served initially on the Home station, and in the East Indies with Sir George Pocock during the Seven Years' War.

George Collier followed up on his success the following month by destroying supplies at Machias, Maine, thereby ruining American plans for an invasion of Nova Scotia.

Nevertheless, George Collier organised and carried out the highly successful Chesapeake raid on the Virginia coast with General Edward Mathew commanding the army contingent.

George Collier gathered his forces and rushed to the scene in his flagship, supported by four frigates.

George Collier was unable to attack as soon as he arrived, being forced to wait for daylight to advance up the river.

George Collier gave chase, eventually forcing the Americans to burn their ships and flee into the woods.

When King George III was informed of Collier's exploits, he said:.

George Collier took the opportunity of his time ashore to embark on a career in politics.

George Collier was elected as Member of Parliament for Honiton in 1784, but returned to sea in 1790 with the Spanish armament.

George Collier only held the post for a few weeks before being forced to resign it due to ill health.

George Collier had married twice during his lifetime, once in 1763 to Christina Gwyn, with whom he had a son; and again in 1781 to Elizabeth Fryer, with whom he had two daughters and four sons.

Sir George Collier had written a stage version of Beauty and the Beast prior to the American War of Independence, entitled Selima and Asor.

George Collier had written an account of his visits to Paris and Brussels in the summer of 1773, which were published by his granddaughter in 1885 under the title France on the Eve of the Great Revolution.