Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth Correspondence with Vice-Admiral Charles Stirling

John Thomas Duckworth, distinguished naval officer, son of Sarah Johnson and Rev. Henry Duckworth, born in Letherhead, Surrey, England, began his naval career as a midshipman in the royal navy in 1759. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on the Princess Royal, based in the West Indies station in 1770; Commander in 1779; Post Captain in 1780. Aboard the Orion (attched 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. Se 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. On his return to England he was appointed second in command of the Mediterranean fleet.

Duckworth married Anne Wallis in 1776 and had two children, George and Sarah Anne.

Vice AdmiralCharles Stirling (1760-1833): Resident Commissioner at Jamaica, 1803-1804; [British] Naval Commander of the South American expedition to Buenos Aires in 1806; Commander-in-Chief of the Cape, 1807; Commander-in-Chief at Jamaica from 1811-1813. He distinguished himself with the capture of the American privateer "Congress" in 1781 and at that time was rewarded with a promotion to the rank of Captain.