Admiral Sir John Laforey, 1st Baronet was a senior and controversial British naval officer of the 18th century whose extensive career was spent mainly on the North American and West Indian stations.
10 Facts About John Laforey
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The John Laforey family was descended from a prominent French Huguenot line which fled to England in the 1690s and became prominent military figures within their adopted country.
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Three years later, John Laforey commanded HMS Hunter at the Siege of Louisbourg in French Canada under Edward Boscawen.
4.
John Laforey continued in service under Boscawen and was present during the capture of Quebec.
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In 1770, John Laforey returned to his naval career, briefly taking over the frigate HMS Pallas.
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John Laforey took command of the newly commissioned HMS Ocean as his first captaincy in the war, and with her served for three years, fighting at the First Battle of Ushant with the squadron of Admiral Keppel.
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John Laforey remained in this role for several years, repeatedly passed over for promotion as a consequence of the enemies he had made during his service in the West Indies.
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Edward Boscawen 8.
In 1789, after a legal challenge and a long dispute, John Laforey was granted his flag with seniority back to 1787 and was made a baronet as compensation from friends in the Admiralty.
9.
In early 1796, John Laforey laid plans for an invasion of St Lucia, but his deteriorating health prompted his replacement in that year by Sir Hugh Christian.
10.
John Laforey inherited his father's estates and baronetcy but died without issue in 1835.