Vice-Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth, RN (9 February 1747 or 1748 – 31 August 1817) was a British naval officer of the French revolutionary and Napoleonic eras.
Born in Leatherhead, Surrey, England, Duckworth was the son of Sarah Johnson and the Rev. Henry Duckworth. He began his naval career in 1759, when he entered the Royal Navy as a midshipman. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant aboard the Princess Royal, based on the West Indies station in 1770; to Commander in 1779; and to Post Captain in 1780.
During the wars with France, Duckworth distinguished himself both in European waters and in the Caribbean. Aboard the Orion (attached to the Channel Fleet), Duckworth saw action in three battles during latter May and early June, 1794, and was one of eighteen Commanders honored with a gold medal and ribbon and thanks of both Houses of Parliament.
He served as Commodore in Santo Domingo in 1796; Commodore at the taking of Minorca in 1798; Rear-Admiral of the White Squadron in 1799; Commander-in-Chief at Barbados and Leeward Islands, 1800-1802; Commander-in-Chief at Jamaica, 1801-1805. Duckworth was nominated a Knights Companion of the most Honourable Military Order of the Bath in 1801 and installed in 1803. He was also briefly a Colonel of Marines. He succeeded in capturing numerous enemy vessels and was promoted to Vice-Admiral of the Blue Squadron in 1804 and remained in Jamaica until 1805. In an engagement on February 6, 1806, Duckworth’s fleet defeated that of French Rear-Admiral Leissegues near Santo Domingo, off the coast of Hispaniola.
Upon his return to England, Duckworth was appointed second in command of the Mediterranean Fleet.
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