Thomas Graves (Royal Navy officer)

Thomas Graves (1725 – 1802), 1st Baron Graves, KB was a British admiral in the Royal Navy, notable for his command during the American Revolutionary War, particularly the Battle of the Chesapeake.

Graves entered the Royal Navy in 1740 and rose through the ranks, seeing action in various conflicts including the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. He distinguished himself in several engagements, gaining a reputation as a competent and experienced officer.

In 1779, Graves was promoted to Rear Admiral and assigned to command a squadron in North American waters during the American Revolutionary War. He served under Admiral Mariot Arbuthnot. In 1781, he became the senior naval commander after Arbuthnot's return to England.

Graves' most significant engagement was the Battle of the Chesapeake on September 5, 1781. He engaged a French fleet under Admiral François Joseph Paul de Grasse, which had arrived to support General George Washington's and Comte de Rochambeau's siege of Yorktown. Despite having a slight advantage in terms of ships, Graves' tactical decisions during the battle are often criticised, and the British fleet suffered significant damage. The French victory prevented the Royal Navy from reinforcing or evacuating General Cornwallis's army at Yorktown.

Cornwallis's subsequent surrender at Yorktown was a pivotal event in the Revolutionary War, effectively securing American independence. The defeat at the Chesapeake severely damaged Graves' reputation, although he continued to serve in the Royal Navy.

In 1788, Graves was promoted to Vice Admiral. He later commanded the Channel Fleet during the French Revolutionary Wars, notably during the Glorious First of June in 1794, where he gained a decisive victory over the French. For this victory, he was created Baron Graves of Gravesend in the County of Kent.

Graves was promoted to Admiral in 1795. He retired from active service and died in 1802. His legacy remains complex, marked by both moments of success and the significant defeat at the Chesapeake, a battle that had profound consequences for the outcome of the American Revolutionary War.