Admiral Sir Rupert George was British naval officer in the American Revolution, became the Commodore for the Royal Navy'sNorth America Station. He then returned to England and became the first Commissioner of the Transport Service, where he stayed for 22 years.
George became a Lieutenant serving on the Rose, Enterprise and Robust. In the American Revolution, he fought on the Quebec with Captain George Farmer in the Action of 6 October 1779. The following year he sailed on the HMS Griffin and captured the French Privateer 'Le Général Villepatoux'. In February 1781, he commanded the Avenger. In 1781, he was the captain of the Vulture, where he fought in the Battle off Cape Breton. On 12 August 1781, while commanding the Charleston, George captured the privateer Harlequin. In November he was promoted to captain. While in command of the Charleston, on 21 February 1782 took over Nararro and Philadelphia. In March he captured the de la Floride-Orientale and de la Georgie. He later joined the Thisbe, which he sailed out of Nova Scotia.
From 1792 to 1794, during the French Revolutionary Wars, George served as the Commodore of the North America Station, commanding His Majesty's Naval Force on the Coasts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. He commanded the only ship of war attached to the North America Station. He sailed the Hussar out of the Mediterranean for Newfoundland. In March 1792 he captured two privateers, Republicaine and Jou-Jou. On 12 May, he arrived with the new Governor, John Wentworth after a five week crossing from Falmouth. In May 1793, he captured the St. Pierre. The first press warrant granted in Nova Scotia was in April 1793, when Wentworth granted a warrant to Commander Rupert George of HMS Hussar. George sent press gangs from Hussar into Halifax. In one night they detained 50 to 60 men, including several Liverpool mariners, and brought them aboard Hussar. He was promoted to Chairman of the Transport Board. He served in the position for 22 years, through seven administrations. During this time he was responsible for the "care and custody" of the French prisoners of war held in the Norman Cross Prison. He was knighted in 1803 and created a baronet.
Family
He was buried in a vault at the centre of the plot in front of the portico of St Mary's Church, Battersea, England. His oldest son Samuel Hood George was sent to Nova Scotia with the new Governor Sir George Prevost to become the Provincial Secretary, after which he returned to England and died. His second oldest son Sir Rupert Dennis George then departed for Nova Scotia to take his older brother's position as Provincial Secretary. He also became the second and last Baronet. He also was the Aide-de-camp during Lt. Gov. Sir Peregrine Mailand's command of the Nova Scotia militia.
