George Churchill (Royal Navy officer)

George Churchill
Godfrey Kneller, George Churchill (NMM)
Born	1654
Died	1710
Allegiance	Kingdom of England
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1666–93, 1699–1708
Rank	Admiral of the Blue
Commands held	Dartmouth, Falcon, Newcastle, Windsor Castle, St. Andrew
Battles/wars	battle off Beachy Head, battle of Barfleur.
Relations	John Churchill (brother) Charles Churchill (brother)

George Churchill (1654–1710) was an admiral of the British Royal Navy. He was a brother of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and Gen. Charles Churchill.

He served as a lieutenant aboard HMS Delft (a prize taken from the Dutch) from 10 April 1666 to 19 June 1666, during the Second Dutch war of 1665-67. During the Third Dutch war of 1672–74 he served as a lieutenant aboard HMS York and then from 28 August 1672 to 10 December 1673 aboard HMS Fairfax and from 26 March 1674 aboard the fireship HMS Castle.

Following the close of the war he became a lieutenant aboard HMS Swan (another prize from the Dutch) from 2 April 1675 until 2 May 1677, and on 10 April 1678 was appointed to command HMS Dartmouth, taking up his post on 14 May, until 6 September 1680. On 11 September 1680 he took command of HMS Falcon, in which he went, in charge of convoy, as far as the Canaries; he remained with this ship until 25 April 1684. On 26 September 1688 he was appointed to command HMS Newcastle.

It is difficult to believe that these appointments involved active service. If Churchill had really served, or wished to serve, afloat, there can be little question but that, with his brother's court interest, his promotion would have been very much more rapid. Guided by his brother, he was one of the first of the officers of the fleet to offer his services to the Prince of Orange, and was shortly afterwards advanced to be captain of HMS Windsor Castle, which he commanded in the Battle of Beachy Head. With greater opportunity of distinction he commanded HMS St. Andrew in the Battle of Barfleur.