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Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser, 1st Bart, (22 February 1722 – 19 March 1796) was an officer of the British Royal Navy during the Seven Years War and the American Revolutionary War.

Hugh Palliser was born to Hugh Palliser and Mary Robinson at Kirk Deighton, West Yorkshire. He entered the navy in 1735 as a midshipman on HMS Aldborough commanded by his uncle Nicholas Robinson. He followed his uncle to the HMS Kennigton in 1737, and then to HMS Tiger and HMS Essex. In 1841 he achieved his lieutenancy under captain Sir John Norris of the Essex. In July 1746 he was promoted to Commander in command of the HMS Weasel and then in November 1746 made Captain of HMS Captain. While captain of HMS Sutherland he returned to England to recover from severe accidental injuries. Following his recovery he was appointed to HMS Sheerness until it was paid off in 1750.

During the Seven Years War commanded HMS Eagle and in 1758 HMS Shrewsbury. Palliser served in the channel fleet under Anson and in 1759 participated in the operations capturing Quebec. In 1762 he was sent to Newfoundland to recapture St.John’s from the French who surrenderd the day before his arrival. In 1764 Palliser was named Governor and Commander in Chief at Newfoundland. In 1770 he was appointed Comptroller of the Navy. In 1773 he was created a Baronet and in 1774 elected to Parliament for Borough of Scarborough. In 1775 he achieved flag rank when promoted to Rear Admiral. Under the Earl of Sandwich he became one of the Lords of the Admiralty and received the sinecure of Lieutenant General of Marines. In 1778 he was promoted again to Vice Admiral of the Blue. As the evident beneficiary of connections with Sandwich and others, Palliser would have been considered a Tory at a time when political life was increasingly factionalized. At this juncture he was appointed to serve under Admiral Augustus Keppel a noted Whig and opponent of the war in America.

American Revolutionary War
In 1778 he was appointed to the Channel Fleet under Admiral Keppel. On 27 July 1778 in the First Battle of Ushant, the Channel Fleet fought an inconclusive battle with the French fleet. The battle’s outcome lead to personal acrimony between Palliser and Keppel, resulted in their individual court martials and increased divisiveness in the navy. Palliser was forced to resign from Parliament and his other posts. In 1780 Lord Sandwich, appointed him Governor of Greenwich Hospital. He was re-elected to Parliament for Huntingdon from 1780 to 1784. He achieved the rank of Admiral in 1787.

Governor of Newfoundland
Palliser served as Governor of Newfoundland, and Commodore of the Newfoundland squadron from 1764 to 1768. Palliser actively supported the fisheries as a source of trained seamen for the Royal Navy. As such he took active steps to enforce the provisions of Treaty of Paris restricting French access to their specific fishing rights. He also sought to restrict further settlement of Newfoundland, so to encourage the British based industry. Subsequently, in 1775 he initiated legislation to encourage ship fisheries, (Palliser’s Act).

Association with James Cook
James Cook, a fellow Yorkshireman first served under Palliser as Master’s Mate of HMS Eagle from 1755 to 1758. Palliser would have supported his elevation to Master in 1757. Both were present at the seige of Quebec where Cook charted the appoach to the city and the landing area. Following the Treaty of Paris, Cook was charged with surveying Newfoundland. As Governor, Palliser actively supported Cook’s work and assisted in the publication of his acclaimed map of Newfoundland. During his term as Comptroller, Palliser supported Cook’s first command of exploration in 1768, and his subsequent voyages. Cook named Cape Palliser, Palliser Bay and Palliser Isles after his "worthy friend". On Cooks death, Palliser erected a memorial to Cook on his estate.

Admiral Palliser died in 1796 at his estate the 'Vache' in Chalfont St Giles and was buried at St Giles.

External link

 * Palliser's monument to Cook, Chalfont St.Giles
 * Will of Hugh Palliser
 * Biography at Government House The Governorship of Newfoundland and Labrador