Parker, Sir Hyde

Parker, Sir Hyde, 1739–1807, British admiral. In the American Revolution he broke (1776) the defenses of the Hudson River at New York City—an exploit for which he was knighted in 1779. He later held commands in the Mediterranean, Jamaica, and the North Sea in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. Horatio Nelson was Parker's second in command at the great victory of Copenhagen (1801); his failure to observe Parker's signal to cease fighting is a famous incident in naval history. Nelson soon replaced Parker.