JER'VIS, JOHN, Earl of Saint Vincent (1735 1823). A British admiral. The second son of Swynfen Jervis, barrister, he was born at Mea ford, Staffordshire. After education at Burton on-Treat and at Greenwich, he entered the navy in 1749. He obtained a commission as lieutenant in 1755, and during some years was engaged in active service on the North American station. In 1769 he commanded the Alarm frigate in the Mediterranean, and when it was paid off made a tour of inspection of the naval arsenals of France and Northern Europe. His next command was the Poudroyant. of 80 guns, the finest two deck ship in the British Navy. Engaging the Pegase, 74 guns, off Brest. in 17S2. he took her without the loss of a man. In 1757 he was made rear-admiral, and in 1793 commanded the naval part of the expedition against the West India Islands, Sir C. Grey commanding the troops. Although the French were well prepared and fought desperately, every island fell in succession into the hands of the British. In 1795 he re ceived the command of the Mediterranean fleet. On February 14, 1797. with 15 sail of the line. he encountered the Spanish fleet of 27 sail off Cape Saint Vincent, and the battle of Saint Vin cent was fought. The genius of Nelson contrib
uted greatly to the success of the day. For this victory the King created Jervis Earl of Saint Vincent. and Parliament settled upon him a pension of £3000 a year. After having, by great firmness. repressed a mutiny off Cadiz. which threatened the loss of the whole fleet, he was compelled by ill health to return home. He was soon applied to by Government to subdue the spirit of sedition which had openly manifested itself in the Channel fleet, and his endeavors were eminently successful. After having held the appointment of First Lord of the Admiralty, and at the age of seventy-two for a second time com manded the Channel fleet, he retired into private life, and died March 13, 1523. A public monu ment was erected to his memory in Saint Paul's Cathedral. Saint Vincent ranks among the fore most naval commanders who broke the maritime pourer of France and Spain and established the naval supremacy of Great Britain.