PARKER, a family of distinction in the annals of the British navy. The founder of the family was sir HUGH PARKER, an alderman of London, who received a baronetcy in 1681.—His grand-nephew, sir HYDE PARKER, commanded the British fleet in the action off the Dogger bank, Aug. 5, 1781, in which three Dutch ships were destroyed, and the rest of the Dutch fleet compelled to retreat into harbor. In 1783 lie was appointed to the command of the British fleet in the East Indies; ht t the ship in which he sailed thither was lost, with all on board.—His second son, sir HYDE PARKER., distinguished himself in the American war; blockaded the Dutch harbors with a small squadron in 1782; commanded the British fleet in the West Indies in 1795; and in 1801 was appointed to the chief command of the fleet which was sent to the Baltic to act against the armed coalition of the three northern states of Russia, Sweden, and Denmark. He had no share in the battle of Copenhagen, in which Nelson engaged contrary to his orders; but by his appearance before Carlscrona, he compelled the neutrality of Sweden; and he was on the point of sailing for Cronstadt when the news of Paul's death put an end to hos tilities.—His kinsman, sir WILLIAM PARKER, was also a British admiral of high repute for his skill and bravery, and contributed to some of the great victories of the close of last century.—Sir PETER PARKER, who was born in 1716, and died in 1811, with the rank of admiral of the fleet, served with distinction during the seven years' and the American wars; and in 1782 brought the French admiral, De Grasse, a prisoner to Eng land, for which he received a baronetcy.—Sir WILLIAM PARKER, born in 1781, coin•
mantled tine frigate Amazon in 1806, and took, after a bard battle, the French frigate La Belle Pottle, belonging to the squadron of admiral Linois; and in 1809 captured the cita del of Ferrol. In 1841 lie succeeded to admiral Elliot in the command of the fleet in the Chinese seas during the first Chinese war, He took possession of Chusan, Ningpo, and Shapu; forced the entrance of the Yang-tse-kiang; and arrived under the walls of Nankin, where the treaty of peace was agreed upon. For these services lie received a baronetcy in 1844. Ile was afterwards appointed to the command of the fleet in the Mediterranean, and exerted himself, although in vain, to mediate between the Neapoli tan and the insurgent Sicilians. In autumn, 1849, he sailed to the Darda tielles, tt the request of sir Stratford Canning (now lord Stratford de Redeliffe), to support the Porte against the threatening demands of Austria and Russia concertino political fugitives; and in Jan., 1850, lie compelled the Greek government, by a blockade of their ports, to comply with the demands of Britain. Named in 1851 admiral of the blue, he resigned the command of the Arediterranean fleet to admiral Dundas, was created admi ral of the white in 1853, admiral of the red in 1838, and rear-admiral of the United King dom in 1862. He died in 1866.