Royal Naval Biography/Oliver, Robert Dudley
ROBERT DUDLEY OLIVER, Esq
Rear-Admiral of the White.
This officer was a Midshipman on board the Prince George, of 98 guns, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Digby, at New York, in 1781; received his first commission about the year 1790; was senior Lieutenant of the Artois, commanded by Captain (now Sir Edmund) Nagle, at the capture of la Revolutionnaire French frigate, Oct. 21, 1794[1]; and for his conduct on that occasion, was soon after promoted to the command of the Hazard sloop in the North Sea. He was afterwards employed on the Irish station, where he continued until advanced to the rank of Post-Captain, in the Seahorse frigate, April 30, 1796. He subsequently commanded the Nemesis, of 28 guns; and, in 1798, convoyed a fleet of merchantmen to and from Quebec.
Early in 1799, our officer was appointed to the Mermaid, another small frigate, in which he proceeded to the Mediterranean, and was for some time engaged in the important service of cutting off the supplies destined for the enemy’s troops at Genoa. On the 1st June, 1800, he captured la Cruelle French brig of war, off the Hières islands; and in the following year, a transport brig, and several other vessels, with valuable cargoes. He returned to England July 12, 1802.
On the renewal of hostilities, in 1803, Captain Oliver obtained the command of the Melpomene frigate; and in the summer of the following year, we find him stationed off Havre, which place was twice bombarded by the vessels under his orders, and sustained considerable damage. Towards the latter end of 1805, he removed into the Mars, of 74 guns; and on the 28th July, 1806, captured le Rhin, a very fine French frigate, of 44 guns and 318 men. His next appointment was to the Valiant, another third-rate, in which ship he was employed on the American station during the late contest with the United States, and occasionally commanded a detached squadron. He became a Rear-Admiral, Aug. 12, 1819.
Our officer married, in June 1805, Philadelphia Hannah, daughter of the late Commissioner Sir Charles Saxton, Baronet.
Residence.– Fitzwilliam Square, North, Dublin.