The Downs Station[1] also known as the Commander-in-Chief, the Downs[2] or Admiral Commanding at the Downs[3] was a formation of the Kingdom of Great Britain and then the United Kingdom's Royal Navy based at Deal. It was a major command of the Royal Navy from 1626 until 1834.[4]

Downs Station
Active1626–1834
CountryUnited Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeNaval formation
Part ofRoyal Navy
Garrison/HQDeal, Kent, England

The Downs is a roadstead (area of sheltered, favourable sea) in the southern North Sea near the English Channel off the east Kent coast. It is primarily known in naval history for the Dutch defeat of the Spanish in the Battle of the Downs in 1639.

History

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The Downs served as permanent base for naval vessels operating out of Deal, Kent.[5]

It served as a base for warships patrolling the North Sea. The command generally covered an area in the southern North Sea near the English Channel off the east Kent coast. The station lasted until 1815, when it was absorbed into the Commander-in-Chief, The Nore's control, whose role and geographic area of responsibility was re-defined by the Admiralty.

Commanders in chief

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Incomplete list includes:[6]
 N = died in post

Station not active 1782 to 1790

Station not active 1791 to 1793

Temporary command in absence of senior officer *

Notes

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  1. ^ Clarke, James Stanier; McArthur, John (2 September 2010). The Naval Chronicle: Volume 27, January-July 1812: Containing a General and Biographical History of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom with a Variety of Original Papers on Nautical Subjects. Cambridge University Press. p. 43. ISBN 9781108018661.
  2. ^ a b Papers, Relative to Correspondence between Sir Home Popham and the Admiralty, between 1 January 1787 and 31st December 1792. Oxford University. 1808. p. 198.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Charnock 1794, pp. 29–31.
  4. ^ Lee, Christopher (20 November 2014). Nelson and Napoleon: The Long Haul to Trafalgar. Faber & Faber. pp. Chapter 7. ISBN 9780571321681.
  5. ^ Robson, Martin (2005). The Battle of Trafalgar. Conway Maritime Press. pp. 29, 36, 158. ISBN 0-85177-979-4.
  6. ^ Hiscocks, Richard (1 February 2016). "Downs commander-in-chief 1777-1815 - more than Nelson". more than Nelson. Richard Hiscocks. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  7. ^ a b Schomberg 1802, p. 224.
  8. ^ Harrison, Simon. "Stafford Fairborne (d.1716)". threedecks.org. Simon Harrison 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "Commander-in-Chief at The Downs". threedecks.org. S.Harrison. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  10. ^ Schomberg 1802, p. 243.
  11. ^ Marshall, John (18 November 2010). Royal Naval Biography: Or, Memoirs of the Services of All the Flag-Officers, Superannuated Rear-Admirals, Retired-Captains, Post-Captains, and Commanders. Cambridge University Press. p. 10. ISBN 9781108022712.
  12. ^ O’Byrne, William R. (6 February 2012). A Naval Biographical Dictionary - Volume 1. Andrews UK Limited. p. 38. ISBN 9781781502778.
  13. ^ Archives, The National. "Admiral Skeffington Lutwidge, Commander-in-Chief in the Downs, Order to Captain Portlock of the Arrow. Copy. Paper No 6". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. National Archives, 1799 May 26, HO 69/5/6. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  14. ^ Burke, John (1838). A genealogical and heraldic history of the commoners of Great Britain and Ireland. Henry Colburn, London. p. 302. Rear-Admiral Edward Thornbrough Downs Station.
  15. ^ O’Byrne, William R. (6 February 2012). A Naval Biographical Dictionary - Volume 2. Andrews UK Limited. p. 875. ISBN 9781781502792.
  16. ^ Goodman, Alfred Edwin (1916). Goodman, a Family History. A.H. Timms, Printer. p. 404.
  17. ^ Urban, Sylvanus (1811). Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle. E. Cave, London. p. 586.
  18. ^ The Annual biography and obituary. A & R Spottiswoode, London. 1827. p. 448.
  19. ^ Marshall, John (1823). "Foley, Thomas" . Royal Naval Biography. Vol. 52.6.5. London: Longman and company. pp. 363–372.
  20. ^ Laughton, John Knox (1889). "Gage, William Hall" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 20. p. 357.
  21. ^ Marshall, John (1823). "Gage, William Hall" . Royal Naval Biography. Vol. 52.7.1. London: Longman and company. pp. 836–840.

References

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