Philip Patton

Educated at Kirkcaldy's grammar school,^[1] Patton joined the Royal Navy in 1755.^[2] As a junior officer he saw action at the Battle of Lagos in August 1759, the Battle of Quiberon Bay in November 1759 and the attack on Havana in June 1762.^[2] Promoted to commander in May 1778, he was given command of the bomb vessel HMS Aetna at that time and of the second-rate HMS Prince George the following year.^[2]

Promoted to captain in March 1779, he commanded Prince George at the attack on the Caracas Convoy and the Battle of Cape St. Vincent in January 1780.^[2] He was given command of the fifth-rate HMS Belle Poule in February 1781 and commanded her at the Battle of Dogger Bank in August 1781.^[2] Promoted to rear-admiral on 1 June 1795 and to vice-admiral on 1 January 1801, he became commander-in-chief Downs Station in 1803^[1] and a Naval Lord in May 1804^[3] before being promoted to full admiral on 4 June 1814.^[2]