Admiral Sir Graham Moore GCB, GCMG (1764 – 25 November 1843) was a Royal Navy officer. As a junior officer he took part in the Great Siege of Gibraltar during the American Revolutionary War. As captain of the frigate Melampus, he took part in the Battle of Tory Island in October 1798, capturing the French frigate Résolue two days later, during the French Revolutionary Wars. He went on to be First Naval Lord, then Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet, and finally, Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth. He was the younger brother of General Sir John Moore.
Moore was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of Jean Simson and John Moore, doctor and author. He entered the Navy in 1777 at the age of 13. He was promoted to lieutenant on 8 March 1782 to serve aboard Crown, taking part in the relief of Gibraltar under Lord Howe, and the subsequent battle of Cape Spartel in October. During the peace he travelled through France, but was recalled to serve aboard Perseus, Dido, and then Adamant, the flagship of Sir Richard Hughes on the North American Station. On 22 November 1790 he was promoted to commander in the sloop Bonetta, before finally returning to England in 1793.
Battle of Tory island on 12 October 1798 by Nicholas Pocock;
Moore took part in the action
Moore was promoted to post-captain on 2 April 1794, soon after the start of the Revolutionary War, with command of the 32-gun frigate Syren, in the North Sea and the coast of France. He then commanded the 36-gun frigate Melampus from September 1795. In her he took part in the Battle of Tory Island on 12 October 1798, capturing the French frigate Résolue two days later. In February 1800 he went out to the West Indies, but was invalided home after eighteen months.
Sir Graham Moore's action off Cape St. Mary, 5 October 1804
On the renewal of the war in 1803 he was appointed to Indefatigable (44), and with three other frigates – Medusa (32), Lively (38) and Amphion (32) – under his command, captured a Spanish treasure fleet of four frigates – Medea (40), Clara (34), Fama (34) and Mercedes (36) – carrying bullion from the Caribbean back to Spain off Cadiz in the action of 5 October 1804.
Moore was then attached to Sir Robert Calder's squadron blockading Ferrol. In 1808, he served as commodore, flying his broad pennant in the new ship Marlborough assisting Admiral Sir Sidney Smith with the Portuguese royal family's escape to Brazil, and was subsequently made a Knight of the Order of the Tower and Sword.
He later served as part of the North Sea fleet for several years. At the close of the Walcheren campaign in December 1809, he was entrusted with destroying the basin, arsenal, and sea defences of Flushing (Vlissingen).
Moore commanded Chatham from March 1812, until promoted to rear-admiral on 12 August 1812, and served as Commander-in-Chief in the Baltic for a short time, flying his flag in HMS Fame. In 1814 he served as captain of the fleet to Lord Keith in the Channel, and, having been appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 2 January 1815, he became second-in-command, Mediterranean Fleet in 1815. He joined the Board of Admiralty as First Naval Lord in the Liverpool ministry in May 1816.
Promoted to vice-admiral on 12 August 1819,he left the Board of the Admiralty in March 1820. He was Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet between 1820 and 1823 and was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on 11 March 1836. Promoted to full admiral on 10 January 1837, he served as Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth from 1839 to 1842 flying his flag in Impregnable.
Tomb of Sir Graham Moore at St. Andrew's Church, Cobham, Surrey
Moore died at his home, Brook Farm, Cobham, Surrey, on 25 November 1843, and was buried at St. Andrew's Church.
In 1812 he married Dora Eden, daughter of Thomas Eden, and niece of William Eden, 1st Baron Auckland; they had one son, Captain John Moore, RN (d. 1866).
Moore kept a detailed diary from 1784 until 1843, comprising thirty-four volumes, which provide a unique account of his service as a lieutenant, commander and captain. The diary is held at Cambridge University Library.
Several places were named in his honour: the Sir Graham Moore Islands, Cape Graham Moore, and Graham Moore Bay, in northern Canada were named by William Parry, while the Sir Graham Moore Islands, Western Australia, were named by Phillip Parker King.
Born: 1764 and died 1843 Son of: Dr John Moore (1730-1802) and Jean Moore (nee Simson, 1735-1820). Brother of: 1. Jane Moore (1758-1843). 2. Lieut-General Sir John Moore (1761-1809). 3. James Carrick Moore (1762-1860) who married Harriet. Henderson (1779-1866). 4. Charles Moore (1770-1809). 5. Francis Moore (1767-1854) who married Lady Eglinton. Graham married: Dora Eden (1789-1875), in 1812, daughter of Thomas Eden of Wimbledon, deputy auditor of Greenwich Hospital. Dora was a neice of Lord Auckland.
Graham and Dora had issue:
1. Capt John Moore RN (1822-1866?). Adm Sir Graham Moore: An Overview
We know about Graham from many sources including:
1. The book "Records of the Carrick Moore Family" by George Heath, 1912.
2. The book 'A Memoir of Admiral Sir Graham Moore' written in 1844 by Major General Robert Gardiner.
3. The book 'Frigate Commander' by Tom Wareham, 2004. Admiral Sir Graham Moore, G.C.B., G.C.M.G. (1764-1843) entered the Navy in 1777 and was made Lieutenant in 1782. Promoted Commander in 1790 and Captain in 1794, he enjoyed a colourful and distinguished career during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars which included the seizure of four hugely valuable Spanish treasure ships in 1804, the safe escort of the Portuguese royal family (fleeing from the French) to Brazil in 1807-08, the Walcheren expedition of 1809 and finally command of George III's yacht Royal Sovereign in 1811.
Made Rear-Admiral and C. in C. Baltic in 1812, he later served as C. in C. Mediterranean and also at Plymouth. Appointed K.C.B. in 1815 for his wartime services, he was upgraded to a G.C.B. in 1836 having previously been created G.C.M.G. in 1820. A Lord of the Admiralty from 1816-20, he received his last promotion as Admiral of the White in 1841.
He retired to Brook Farm near Cobham in Surrey.
Admiral Sir Graham Moore as a midshipman Attributed to John Opie Further information can be found in the book 'Frigate Commander' by Tom Wareham. This book is based on the journal of Sir Graham Moore.
Letter from Adm Sir Graham Moore to George Heath regarding his son Leopold Heath who had just finished his course at the Royal Naval College. Letters written by Graham Moore Letter from Adm Sir Graham Moore to George Heath regarding his son Leopold Heath who had just finished his course at the Royal Naval College. Addressed to: Mr Serjeant Heath, 18 Gower Street, Bedford Square, London. [no postmark as this letter was carried by a servant]
Brook Farm, Cobham, Surrey Oct 12th 1831
My Dear Sir, I enclose a letter from Julia [Graham's neice] to which this, as my answer, I sent to you. I conclude that your son has finished, or will have finished, his course of study at the College before Sir John Gore sails; in which case, as he will then be entitled to the advantages resulting to those who have passed through the College I think it a most desirable circumstance that he should go out with Sir John Gore. The East India station is a very good one, particularly in peace and I believe as healthy as any other. Captain Loring is a most respectable worthy man and it is very much to your son's credit that he has made a friend of him. With regard to the objection Julia mentions of the Flag Ship being more in harbor than other Ships, Sir John Gore can lend your son to any of the Cruisers under his orders which obviates it entirely. I used to send my young men out in this way in the Mediteranean to give them sea experience retaining them still on the Books of the Flag Ship. Accept the offer by all means. I will write at more leisure to Sir John Gore whom I know. Your servant awaits so excuse this hurried scrawl. Your's very sincerely, Graham Moore.
Letter from Adm Sir Graham Moore to George Heath regarding his son Leopold Heath who had just finished his course at the Royal Naval College. Addressed to: Mr Serjeant Heath, 18 Gower Street, Bedford Square, London [postmark B 26OC26 1831] Brook Farm, Cobham, Surrey Oct 25th 1831
My Dear Sir, I think it will give Mrs Heath and you pleasure to know part of the contents of Sir John Gore's answer to my recommendation of your son, "My old shipmate Loring spoke so highly of young Heath's character and abilities that, without any other knowledge of him I desired Captain Hart to apply for him to be discharged into the Melville, and, when Mr Sergeant Heath told me that he was a protégé and relative of your's, it gave me additional pleasure that I had it in my power to do so, and you may rely on it, to shew [show] my sincere regard for you, I will do all that may lay in my power for this youth. We start upon an excellent foundation for when I left Mr Heath last Monday, it was to attend Sir Thomas Foley and Sir Michael Seymour on an enquiry at the College: the Boys of the first Class having struck work. We found that young Heath was an exception pointed out by Dr Inman and Mr Mason the head and 2nd Masters, consequently, instead of being included in the List to lose one month's time, he received an encomium and he was placed at the head of the class". I think, as I before stated in my letter to you in answer to Julia's, that your son begins his Naval career under most promising circumstances and it ought to be much more satisfactory to you than if he had been placed with Sir John Gore in consequence of family, or any other connexions [connections]. My wife joins in kind regards to you and Mrs Heath and I remain, my Dear Sir, very faithfully your's. Graham Moore.
Admiral Sir Graham Moore G.C.B. G.C.M.G. who lived at Brook Farm Cobham. Born in Glasgow, son of John Moore, a doctor, also known as an author. He was the younger brother of General Sir John Moore.∼Memorial to Admiral Sir Graham Moore, GCB, GCMG. Son of John Moore and Jean Simpson. Younger brother of General Sir John Moore. Entered the Navy in 1777 at the age of 13. Promoted to Lt 8 Mar 1782. Served on HMS Crown, taking part in the relief of Gibraltar under Lord Howe, and the subsequent battle of Cape Spartel. Served on HMS Perseus, Dido, and then Adamant, the flagship of Sir Richard Hughes on the North American Station. Promoted to Commander 22 Nov 1790 and post-Captain on 2 Apr 1794 with command of the 32-gun frigate HMS Syren. He then commanded the 36-gun frigate HMS Melampus and took part in the Battle of Tory Island on 12 Oct 1798, capturing the French frigate Résolue two days later. In Feb 1800 he went out to the West Indies, but was invalided home after eighteen months.
In 1803 he was appointed to HMS Indefatigable and with three other frigates, Medusa, Lively and Amphion under command, captured a Spanish treasure fleet of four frigates off Cadiz on 5 Oct 1804. In 1808, he served as commodore on HMS Marlborough assisting Admiral Sir Sidney Smith with the Portuguese royal family's escape to Brazil, and was subsequently made a Knight of the Order of the Tower and Sword. He commanded Chatham from Mar 1812, until promoted to Rear-Admiral on 12 Aug 1812, and served as Commander-in-Chief in the Baltic for a short time. In 1814 he served as captain of the fleet to Lord Keith in the Channel, and became second-in-command, Mediterranean Fleet in 1815. Following the end of the war he served on the Board of Admiralty between 1816 and 1820, being promoted to vice-admiral on 12 Aug 1819. He was Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet between 1820 and 1823, promoted to Admiral on 10 Jan 1837, and served as Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth from 1839 to 1842.
He died at his home, Brook Farm, Cobham, Surrey and was buried at St Andrew's Church.
Admiral Sir Graham Moore, GCB, GCMG (1764–1843) was a British sailor and a career officer in the Royal Navy. He was the younger brother of General Sir John Moore.
==Naval career==
Moore was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of the doctor and author John Moore, and Jean Simson. He entered the Navy in 1777 at the age of 13. He was promoted to lieutenant on 8 March 1782 to serve aboard {HMS|Crown|1782|2}, taking part in the relief of Gibraltar under Lord Howe, and the subsequent battle of Cape Spartel in October. During the peace he travelled through France, but was recalled to serve aboard {HMS|Perseus|1776|2}, {HMS|Dido|1784|2}, and then {HMS|Adamant|1780|2}, the flagship of Sir Richard Hughes on the North American Station. On 22 November 1790 he was promoted to commander in the sloop {HMS|Bonetta|1779|2}, before finally returning to England in 1793.
Moore was promoted to post-captain on 2 April 1794, soon after the start of the Revolutionary War, with command of the 32-gun frigate {HMS|Syren|1782|2}, in the North Sea and the coast of France. He then commanded the 36-gun frigate {HMS|Melampus|1785|2} from September 1795. In her he took part in the Battle of Tory Island on 12 October 1798, capturing the {Ship|French frigate|Résolue|1778|2|up=yes} two days later. In February 1800 he went out to the West Indies, but was invalided home after eighteen months.
On the renewal of the war in 1803 he was appointed to {HMS|Indefatigable|1784|2} (44), and with three other frigates — {HMS|Medusa|1801|2} (32), {HMS|Lively|1804|2} (38) and {HMS|Amphion|1798|2} (32) — under his command, captured a Spanish treasure fleet of four frigates — Medea (40), Clara (34), Fama (34) and Mercedes (36) — carrying bullion from the Caribbean back to Spain off Cadiz in the Action of 5 October 1804.
Moore was then attached to Sir Robert Calder’s squadron blockading Ferrol. In 1808, he served as commodore, flying his broad pennant in the new ship {HMS|Marlborough|1807|2} assisting Admiral Sir Sidney Smith with the Portuguese royal family’s escape to Brazil, and was subsequently made a Knight of the Order of the Tower and Sword.
He later served as part of the North Sea fleet for several years. At the close of the Walcheren campaign in December 1809, he was entrusted with destroying the basin, arsenal, and sea defences of Flushing.
Moore commanded {HMS|Chatham|1812|2} from March 1812, until promoted to rear-admiral on 12 August 1812, and served as Commander-in-Chief in the Baltic for a short time, flying his flag in {HMS|Fame|1805|6}. In 1814 he served as captain of the fleet to Lord Keith in the Channel, and became second-in-command, Mediterranean Fleet in 1815. Following the end of the war he served on the Board of Admiralty between 1816 and 1820, being promoted to vice-admiral in 12 August 1819. He was Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet between 1820 and 1823, promoted to full admiral on 10 January 1837, and served as Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth from 1839 to 1842 flying his flag in {HMS|Impregnable|1810|2}.
Moore died at his home, Brook Farm, Cobham, Surrey, on 25 November 1843, and was buried at St. Andrew’s Church.
==Family==
In 1812 he married Dora Eden, daughter of Thomas Eden, and niece of William Eden, 1st Baron Auckland; they had one son, Captain John Moore, RN (d. 1866).
==Diary==
Moore kept a detailed diary from 1784 until 1806, later published in thirty-seven volumes, which provides a unique account of his service as a lieutenant, commander and captain.
==Namesakes==
Several places were named in his honour: the Sir Graham Moore Islands, Cape Graham Moore, and Graham Moore Bay, in northern Canada were named by William Parry, while the Sir Graham Moore Islands, Western Australia, were named by Phillip Parker King.
The Battle of Cape Santa Maria (also known as the "Battle of Cape St Mary"; in Spanish Batalla del Cabo de Santa María) was a naval action of 5 October 1804 that took place off the southern Portuguese coast, in which a British squadron under the command of Commodore Graham Moore attacked a Spanish squadron commanded by Brigadier Don José de Bustamante y Guerra, in time of peace, without declaration of war between the UK and Spain.
Background.
Under the terms of a secret convention Spain had to pay 72 million francs annually to France until it declared war on Britain. The British had learned of the treaty, and knew it was likely that Spain would declare war soon after the arrival of the treasure ships. Since the British also knew that by law the fleet could only land at Cádiz, as well as its place and approximate time of departure from South America, it was not difficult to position a squadron to intercept it.
Bustamante had set sail from Montevideo on 9 August 1804 with four frigates loaded with gold and silver, as well as much other valuable cargo. On 22 September Vice Admiral Lord Collingwood ordered Captain Graham Moore, commanding the 44-gun razee frigate HMS Indefatigable, to intercept and detain the Spanish ships, peacefully, if possible.
Moore's ship arrived off Cadiz on 29 September and was joined on 2 October by HMS Lively, and by HMS Medusa and HMS Amphion the day after. In line abreast they patrolled the approaches to Cádiz.
The battle.
At dawn on 5 October, the Spanish frigates sighted the coast of Portugal. At 7 a.m. they sighted the four British frigates. Bustamante ordered his ships into line of battle, and within an hour the British came up in line, to windward of the Spaniards and "within pistol-shot".
Moore, the British Commodore, sent Lieutenant Ascott to the Spanish flagship Medea, to explain his orders. Bustamante naturally refused to surrender and, impatient of delays, at 10 a.m. Moore ordered a shot be fired ahead over the bows of Medea. Almost immediately a general exchange of fire broke out. Within ten minutes the magazine of the Mercedes exploded destroying the ship, and killing all but 40 of her 240 crew. Within half an hour the Santa Clara and the Medea had surrendered. Fama broke away and tried to flee; Medusa quickly followed. Moore ordered the faster Lively to pursue, capturing Fama a few hours later.The three frigates were taken to Gibraltar, and then to Gosport, England.
The results.
Spain declared war on Great Britain on 14 December 1804, but suffered a catastrophic defeat less than a year later at the Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805. Napoleon, having crowned himself Emperor on 2 December, gained Spain as an ally in his war against Britain.
In practical terms, the British interception of the four Real Armada frigates represented the end of an era for Bourbon Spain and regular specie shipments from the Spanish Empire's New World mines and mints. The squadron to which Mercedes belonged was the last of its kind that the world would see: a Spanish treasure fleet moving bullion from the New World Viceroyalties to the Iberian kingdoms.
Under the terms of the Cruizers and Convoys Act of 1708 ships captured at sea were "Droits of the Crown" and became the property of their captors, who received the full value of the ships and cargo in prize money. However, since technically Britain and Spain were not at war at the time of the action, the Admiralty Court ruled that the three ships were "Droits of the Admiralty", and all revenues would revert to them. The four Spanish ships carried a total of 4,286,508 Spanish dollars in silver and gold coin, as well as 150,000 gold ingots, 75 sacks of wool, 1,666 bars of tin, 571 pigs of copper, seal skins and oil, although 1.2 million in silver, half the copper and a quarter of the tin went down with the Mercedes. Still, the remaining ships and cargo were assessed at a value of £900,000 (equivalent to £69,103,000 in 2018). After much legal argument an ex gratia payment was made amounting to £160,000, of which the four Captains would have received £15,000 each (equivalent to £1,152,000 in 2018).
Medea was taken into the Royal Navy as HMS Iphigenia (later renamed HMS Imperieuse), Santa Clara as HMS Leocadia and Fama as HMS Fama.
Aftermath.
In March 2007 the Florida-based company Odyssey Marine Exploration recovered 17 tons of gold and silver from the Mercedes, insisting that it had been found in international waters and therefore beyond the legal jurisdiction of any one country. The Spanish government branded the Odyssey team "21st century pirates" and in May 2007 launched legal proceedings arguing that the wreck was protected by "sovereign immunity" which prohibits the unauthorized disturbance or commercial exploitation of state-owned naval vessels. In June 2009 the Federal Court in Tampa found against Odyssey and ordered the treasure to be returned to Spain as has been done on 25 February 2012.
Order of battle.
Spain.
Medea 40 gun frigate, Flagship carrying Admiral Bustamante, commanded by Capitán Francisco de Piedrola y Verdugo
- Fama 34 gun frigate, Capitán Miguel Zapiain y Valladares
- Mercedes 36 gun frigate, Capitán Jose Manuel De Goicoa y Labart
- Santa Clara 34 gun frigate, Capitán Aleson y Bueno
Britain.
HMS Indefatigable 44 gun frigate, Flagship, Commodore Graham Moore
- HMS Lively 38 gun frigate, Captain Graham Eden Hamond
- HMS Amphion 32 gun frigate, Captain Samuel Sutton
- HMS Medusa 32 gun frigate, Captain John Gore
The Business of the commander-in-chief is first to bring an enemy fleet to battle on the most advantageous terms to himself, (I mean that of laying his ships close on board the enemy, as expeditiously as possible); and secondly to continue them there until the business is decided.