Alexander Graeme

Born at Graemeshall in Orkney,[1] Graeme became commanding officer of the sloop HMS Kingfisher in February 1776 and saw action at the Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet in June 1776 during the American Revolutionary War.[2] He went on to be commanding officer of the sixth-rate HMS Tartar in July 1779, in which he took part in the action of 11 November 1779, seizing the Spanish 38-gun frigate Santa Margarita off Cape Finisterre.[3] After that he became commanding officer of the fourth-rate HMS Preston, in which he lost his arm during an action off Dogger Bank, in November 1781 and then became commanding officer of the second-rate HMS Glory in January 1795.[4] He was appointed Commander-in-Chief, The Nore in June 1799 and retired as Admiral of the White.[4]

Graeme lived his later life at 87 Princes Street in Edinburgh's New Town.[5]

Graeme died in Edinburgh on 5 August 1818 aged 76 and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard in the centre of Edinburgh.[6]

• Allen, Joseph (1853). Battles of the British Navy. Vol. 1. H.G. Bohn.
• Williams, Thomas (2008). America's First Flag Officer - Father of the American Navy. Bloomington, Indiana: AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1-4343-8653-3.