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John MacBride (c. 1735 – 17 February 1800) was an officer of the Royal Navy and a politician who saw service during the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary Wars, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral of the Blue. MacBride entered the navy after serving on merchant vessels and distinguished himself in a number of actions during the Seven Years' War, including cutting out a privateer, which secured him the rank of post-captain by the end of the conflict. He was instrumental in establishing and securing a British settlement on the Falkland Islands in the years of peace which followed, and also performed service to the Royal Family by transporting the King's sister, Caroline Matilda. Still in active service by the outbreak of war with the American colonies, MacBride took command of a ship of the line and saw action in engagements under Keppel and Rodney. He was also active against privateers, capturing the ''Comte d'Artois'' in a heated battle off the Irish coast. Further service followed with Parker's fleet against the Dutch and with Barrington in the Channel. MacBride ended the war serving ashore in Ireland, and in 1784 embarked on a political career, becoming MP for Plymouth. Promoted to flag rank with the outbreak of war with Revolutionary France, he commanded squadrons off the enemy coasts, and transported troops to support land operations on the continent. His last active service was in 1795, though he was promoted to Admiral of the Blue shortly before his death in 1800. ==Family and early life== John MacBride was born in Scotland around 1735, the second son of the Presbyterian minister Robert MacBride. The MacBrides moved to Ireland shortly after John's birth, when Robert became minister of Ballymoney, in County Antrim. John's brother, David MacBride, became a noted medical writer. John MacBride initially went to sea with the merchant service in 1751, and joined the navy as an able seaman three years later, in 1754.〔 He served first aboard the 24-gun in the West Indies for a number of years, before returning to British wars and serving aboard , the flagship in the Downs for a few months.〔〔 MacBride passed his lieutenant's examination on 6 October 1758, and received his commission on 27 October.〔〔 He was moved into the hired cutter , and in August 1761 came across a French privateer anchored in the Dunkirk roadstead.〔 MacBride made contact with the frigate and asked her captain for four armed and manned boats. ''Maidstone''s captain readily agreed, and at 10 o'clock that night the boats left the British ships and approached the privateer with muffled oars. They came within pistol shot and hailed the French vessel, and on receiving no reply, boarded her.〔 The British boarded on both sides of the vessel, and carried the ship with two men wounded. MacBride himself shot and killed the French lieutenant as he aimed a gun at the British boat.〔 The total French losses were two dead and five wounded. Having secured the vessel, the British took her out to sea under the guns of a French battery.〔 MacBride's good service brought him a promotion to master and commander on 7 April 1762, and an appointment to command the fireship . From there he moved to command the sloop on 27 May 1763, still at the rank of commander.〔 After some time spent on the Home station, MacBride received a promotion to post-captain on 20 June 1765, and took command of the 30-gun .〔 This was followed in August 1765 with command of the 32-gun , and a mission to establish a colony on the Falkland Islands.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「John MacBride (Royal Navy officer)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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