Edward Riou (1762-1801)

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Edward Riou

NationalityBritish 
RolesNaval Sailor 
Date of Birth20.11.1762 - Faversham, Kent, Faversham CSORN
First Known Service28.10.1780CSORN
Last Known Service9.1795CSORN
Date of Death2.4.1801 - Battle of Copenhagen
Cause of DeathEnemy actionCSORN

Event History


Date fromDate toEventSource
28.10.1780 LieutenantCSORN
12.4.178319.4.1783
Ganges (74) 1782-1816
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, Third Lieutenant ADM 6/23/48		ADM 6/23
19.4.17837.6.1784
Ganges (74) 1782-1816
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, Second Lieutenant ADM 6/23/53		ADM 6/23
4.178912.4.1790
Guardian (44) 1784-1790
British 44 Gun
5th Rate Ship
, Lieutenant, and Commanding Officer		BWAS-1714
21.9.1790 CommanderCSORN
21.9.179021.11.1790
Rattlesnake (16) 1791-1814
British 16 Gun
Unrated Sloop
, Commander, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/24/69		ADM 6/24
4.6.1791 CaptainCSORN
4.6.179123.1.1793
Brilliant (28) 1779-1811
British 28 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
, Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/24/124		ADM 6/24
20.6.17933.1794
Rose (28) 1783-1794
British 28 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
, Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/24/247		BWAS-1714
11.17949.1795
Beaulieu (40) 1791-1806
British 40 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
, Captain, and Commanding Officer		BWAS-1714
5.17992.4.1801
Amazon (38) 1799-1817
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
, Captain, and Commanding Officer		BWAS-1793
2.4.1801 Battle of Copenhagen 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Marylynn Rouse on Friday 7th of February 2025 11:25

William Wilberforce (1759-1833) added this note to a letter he received from John Newton (1725-1807) about the Guardian’s departure: ‘Lieutt Edward Riou is an acquaintance of mine his mother formerly Dolly Dawson. I called on and he was going to write to me to know if I had anything for Botany … the Lieut. is 27, well disposed, a thinking good officer, it will be probably 2 or 3 weeks before the Guardian gets away, as both I learnt these from Sir Charles [Middleton].’ Bodleian MS Wilberforce c49 f23.

Posted by Alison Sutherland on Saturday 2nd of November 2024 03:44

Edward Riou was a misdshipman on HMS Discovery under Captain Charles Clerke on Cook's third voyage to the South Pacific. He remained on Discovery until 6 September 1779 until he was transferred to HMS Resolution. More details can be found on the Captain Cook Society's website.

Posted by Tim Oakley on Thursday 17th of May 2012 17:32

Jun 1799 appointed to Amazon 38 and still in command at the 1st battle of Copenhagen where he was killed in action. Command of the Amazon devolved to the first lieutenant John Quilliam

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