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|battles =American War of Independence *Action of 8 January 1780 *Relief of Gibraltar *Battle of Cape St. Vincent *Battle of the Saintes French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars *West Indies Campaign 1804–1810 *Invasion of Martinique |battles_label = |awards = |relations = |laterwork = |signature = }} Joseph Spear (d. 1837) was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Spear joined the Royal Navy during the American War of Independence and soon saw action at several of the largest fleet actions of the war. He was with Rodney's fleet at the relief of Gibraltar, fighting at the capture of the Caracas convoy, the Battle of Cape St. Vincent and then at the capture of a French warship and her convoy. His ship was again in action with a Dutch ship in the Channel, before Spear went out to the West Indies and saw action at the Battle of the Saintes. It was the start of an enduring connection with the Caribbean, where Spear spent the most active part of his career. Continuing in active service during the years of peace, Spear rose to lieutenant and served on a number of ships during the French Revolutionary Wars. He was promoted to commander late in the wars, and was assigned to the West Indies on the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars. He commanded several sloops and unrated vessels with distinction, alternating with active service in command of larger ships of the line and frigates during the West Indies Campaign. He fought a particularly fierce action with a superior French force, for which he received plaudits from his commanding officer, and supported the Invasion of Martinique. His reward was to carry despatches to Britain, for which he was promoted to post-captain. Service with the Mediterranean Fleet followed, commanding ships of the line and blockading the French in Toulon. Ill health brought an end to his active service, and he returned to Britain in 1812. He did not live long enough to receive a promotion to flag rank and died in 1837, still a post-captain. == Early life == Spear was born in Weymouth, Dorset and entered the Royal Navy in 1779, joining the 74-gun as a midshipman. The ''Marlborough'' was commanded at this time by Captain Taylor Penny, also from Weymouth, and a previous acquaintance was probably responsible for Spear obtaining a position on the ship. ''Marlborough'' was one of the ships assigned to the fleet under Sir George Brydges Rodney and sent to relieve Gibraltar in early 1780. Spear's ship was in action several times within a few months, firstly at the interception and capture of a convoy of Spanish ships of the Caracas Company on 8 January, and then at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent on 16 January. ''Marlborough'' was then detached with a small squadron under Admiral Robert Digby and ordered to escort a convoy to Minorca. While returning to Britain from Gibraltar, Digby's squadron came across the French 64-gun ''Protée'', escorting a fleet of transports bound for Mauritius. The ''Protée'' and three transports were duly captured. Spear then served in the Western Approaches for the rest of 1780, where ''Marlborough'' was again in action at the end of the year, capturing the Dutch 64-gun ''Prinses Carolina'' on 30 December 1780. 1781 was spent with the Western squadron, and in January 1782 Spear sailed with his ship for the West Indies with Rodney's fleet. ''Marlborough'' was in action at the Battle of the Saintes on 12 April 1782, sustaining casualties of three killed and sixteen wounded. Following the British victory at the Saintes, ''Marlborough'' sailed to North America with Admiral Hugh Pigot in July, and spent between September and October at New York. She was then active in the blockade of Cap-François for the remainder of the war. Following the signing and ratification of the Treaty of Paris, the war came to an end and ''Marlborough'' sailed back to Britain to be paid off. Spear left the ship and managed to find further employment in the navy. Spear served first aboard the sloop , later transferring to the 64-gun and then to the 74-gun . It was while serving on ''Bellona'' that Spear received his promotion to lieutenant, on 15 October 1790. He went on to serve on the East Indies station as first-lieutenant of the sloop . 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「Joseph Spear」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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