Sir George Home

Of all people, Sir George Home required the help of Captain William Bligh to resolve a mutiny aboard his command in 1795.

1740-1803. He was the only son of Sir James Home of Blackadder, 6th Baronet, and of his wife, Catherine Livingstone.

On 28 March 1755 Home became the 7th Baronet Home of Blackadder, Berwickshire, following the death of his father. He was commissioned lieutenant on 23 November 1759.

On 1 August 1778 he was promoted commander and appointed to the Barbadoes 14 in the Leeward Islands, which vessel he commanded at the Battle of St. Lucia on 15 December. In the early part of the following year he commissioned the captured American privateer Cumberland as the Rover 16 on the same station.

Home was posted captain on 21 July 1779, and he commanded the Vigilant 64 at the Battle of Martinique on 17 April 1780, suffering two men wounded. His command was present in the remainder of the Leeward Islands campaign from May – July including the fleet skirmish in the former month when her casualties were twelve men killed and fifteen wounded, and he remained at St. Lucia when the fleet headed north during the autumn. He thereafter served at the occupation of St. Eustatius from 3 February 1781 before being sent home with Leeward Islands convoy at the end of April and being paid off in September.

In May 1782 he recommissioned the Suffolk 74 for the Channel, although Captain John Duckworth later briefly acted for him, and he was present at the relief of Gibraltar on 18 October. After going out to the West Indies at the end of the year the Suffolk returned home to be paid off in June 1783.

Home commanded the Defiance 74 from 17 June 1795, having to rely upon Captain William Bligh to contain a mutiny aboard her in the Leith Roads in October. After leaving her on 16 March 1796 he moved to the Glory 98, with which he remained for the next year in the Channel.

He was advanced to flag rank on 20 February 1797, became a vice-admiral on 29 April 1802, and died on 2 May 1803, being buried in Edinburgh.

On 13 September 1785 Home married Helen Buchanan of Drumpellier and they had a son, James, who became the 8th Baronet, and a daughter.