Robert Duff (Royal Navy officer)

For other people named Robert Duff, see Robert Duff (disambiguation).

Robert Duff of Fetteresso (c.1721 – 6 December, 1787 Queensferry, Scotland) leading naval officer and colonial governor of Newfoundland.

Family

Admiral Robert Duff was among the youngest of the very many children of Patrick Duff of Craigston 1655 - 1731. In 1764 he married Lady Helen Duff (1739-1778) a younger daughter of his first cousin, William Duff of Braco, the scholarly first Earl of Fife ("Irish Honours"); the couple had six recorded children: Jean (b. 1765, married 1791 James Clerk of Bonnington), a son (b.1766, dsp), Robert William (b.1767, grandfather of Robert Duff), a child (b. 1775, d. young), Adam (1775-1840), and James Alexander Duff (1777-1800). His portrait was painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds for Greenwich Hospital.

Career

Joined the Royal Navy in 1744. He was appointed commander-in-chief (Royal Navy) and governor of Newfoundland in 1775.

Service history:

• 1744 joined the Royal Navy,
• 1744 promoted to commander,
• 1746 promoted to Post-Captain and appointed to the Anglesea,
• January 1755 appointed regulating captain of the press-gang,
• 1755 appointed to the Rochester,
• 1758 with Commodore Howe in the expedition against Cherbourg;
• 20 November 1759 Battle of Quiberon Bay

On the morning of 20 November 1759, Robert Duff was lying at anchor in Quiberon Bay when his outlook gave him the intelligence of the French fleet to the southward of Belle Isle. He hastily put to sea and stood to the southward, chased by the French. Suddenly he tacked to the eastward, his men manning the rigging, cheering and throwing their hats into the sea. The English fleet had just been sighted, in hot pursuit of the French, who, partly owing to their turning aside to chase Duff’s squadron, were overtaken before they could get to a safe anchorage and were completely defeated. Two French ships struck their colours, four were sunk, and the rest were all damaged and ran for shelter. This was the decisive Battle of Quiberon Bay, ‘when Hawke came swooping down from the west’ and though Commodore Duff had no actual share in the fighting, his tactics greatly contributed to the result, and his name is always associated with the victory.

• Promoted to command of The Foudroyant and served under Rodney in the West Indies,
• 1775 promoted to Rear-Admiral of the Blue,
• 1775 commander-in-chief (Royal Navy) and governor of Newfoundland,
• 1775 commander of the Panther,
• 1776 Rear admiral of the White,
• 1778 Rear admiral of the Red, appointed command of the Gibraltar station,
• 1778 promoted Vice-Admiral of the Blue and of the White,
• 1779 took part in the siege of Gibraltar,
• 26 September 1779 Vice admiral of the Red,
• 1780 retired from active service,
• 1781 Rear admiral of the Red.

References

• A & H Tayler (1914). The Book of the Duffs. William Brown.

See also

• Governors of Newfoundland
• List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador

External links

• Biography at Government House The Governorship of Newfoundland and Labrador
• "Duff family tree".