A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Rye, Peter
RYE. (Rear-Admiral, 1846. f-p., 25; h-p., 44.)
Peter Rye entered the Navy, in June, 1778, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Winchelsea 32, Capt. Chas. Saxon. In April, 1779, on his return from escorting convoy to Jamaica, he joined the Conquestador 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Robt. Roddam at the Nore; and while serving, for upwards of three years, in the Jason 32, Capt. Jas. Pigott, he assisted in beating off, at one time, a French frigate, a ship, and a sloop, between the Nore and Great Yarmouth, and was present, about 1782, in a stiff action fought in the Bay of St. Jago. Between Oct. in the latter year and 1786 he was employed on the American, West India, and Portsmouth stations, in the Thorn 16, Capt. Wm. Lechmere, Hermione 32, Capt. Wm. Stone, Champion 20, Capt. Thos. Sotheby, and Triumph 74, flag-ship of Sir Sam. Hood. In 1790 he joined the Victory 100, bearing the flag in the Channel of Lord Bridport; and on 16 March, 1791, he was made Lieutenant into the Gorgon 44, Capt. John Parker. Being next, 22 Jan. 1793, appointed to the Crescent of 42 guns and 257 men, Capt. Jas. Saumarez, he distinguished himself in that ship, and was wounded in the head, at the capture, 20 Oct. ensuing, of the French frigate La Réunion of 36 guns and 320 men, 120 of whom were either killed or wounded, with scarcely any casualty of the British.[1] In Dec. of the same year he accompanied an expedition under Earl Moira and Rear-Admiral M‘Bride to the coast of Normandy and Brittany; and on 8 June, 1794, we find him in action with an enemy’s squadron of very superior force, from which the Crescent escaped by the most bold and masterly manoeuvres. When with Sir Jas. Saumarez (who had been Knighted for the capture of La Réunion) in the Orion 74, Mr. Rye fought in Lord Bridport’s action 23 June, 1795. He afterwards had charge, for about 12 months, of the Earl Spencer cutter of 14 guns, employed on particular service; and on 1 Jan. 1801 he was presented with a second promotal commission. During the period which elapsed between the date last mentioned and the peace of Amiens he cruized with success in the Rambler 14, on the Jersey station. He subsequently commanded the Providence hired armed brig, on the Baltic and Cork stations, from April, 1804, until promoted to Post rank 12 Aug. 1812; and the and Porpoise, from April, 1813, until Oct. 1814. In the Providence he afforded protection to several convoys, and made prize, 11 April, 1805, of the Dutch schooner L’Honneur of 12 guns, carrying 1000 stand of arms, besides taking, on another occasion, a ship of 700 tons. He also beat off five Danish gun-boats while becalmed off Jutland. In the Ceylon he was sent to Gottenborg to superintend the departure of convoys; and in the Porpoise he was employed on particular service of an important character. He accepted his present rank 1 Oct. 1846.
Rear-Admiral Rye, from 18 July, 1837, until the period of his last promotion, was on the out-pension of Greenwich Hospital. He is married, and has issue. Agent – Joseph Woodhead.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1793, p. 938.