Parker, Hyde (1714–1782)

English admiral. Having been given command of the East India fleet, Parker sailed from Rio de Janeiro on 12 December 1782 but neither he nor his ship was heard of again.

Nine years later the ship's equipment was found and it was presumed to have been lost with all hands.

Parker, Hyde (1739–1807)

British admiral. He distinguished himself in the American Revolution, and took part in the action off the Dogger Bank under his father. In 1801 he was in supreme command of the fleet which was sent to the Baltic against the fleets of Russia, Sweden, and Denmark. It was his signal that Horatio Nelson ignored at the battle of Copenhagen by jocularly putting his telescope to his blind eye to look at the signals. Parker later compelled Sweden to remain neutral, and was ready to sail to Kronstadt, Russian, when the Tsar's death put an end to hostilities.