George Tate (Russian Navy officer)

George Tate was born near London on 14 June 1746, although some sources give the earlier date of 19 June 1745. == Naval career ==

George, the third son, entered the Russian Navy, and in 1770 was made a lieutenant, probably in the fleet under John Elphinstone. He is said to have distinguished himself in several engagements against the Turks and the Swedes. At the capture of Ismail in December 1790 he was wounded. He was promoted to be rear-admiral and presented with a miniature of the empress Catharine II, set in diamonds. In 1795 he had a command in the squadron of twelve ships of the line sent, under Vice-admiral Hanikoff, to co-operate with the English; though they are said to have been in such a bad state that the English "derived no other advantage from them than the honour of repairing them and supplying their wants". After a short experience of them, they were sent home as worse than useless. In 1796 and again in 1799 as vice-admiral, Tate commanded a squadron in the North Sea. He was made admiral and senator by Alexander I, and received the orders of St. Waldemar, Alexander Nevsky, and St. John. == Death and personal ==

He died suddenly, unmarried, at St. Petersburg on 17 February 1821. To the last he kept up a correspondence with his family in the United States, and occasionally visited them. He is described as of middle height, stout build, dark complexion. His portrait and letters, with others of his papers, later came into the possession of his grand-niece, Eliza Ingraham, and her family of Portland, Maine. == References ==