his retirement, and Graves resigned. He died
on February 9, 1802, a competent sailor who
had the misfortune of commanding at the
most decisive British naval defeat of the
American Revolution.
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A. “Vice Admiral Graves and the North American
Squadron.” Mariner’s Mirror62 (1976): 372–385.GREY, CHARLES
Grey, Charles
(1729–November 14, 1807)
British General
I
n terms of bald-faced results, redoubtable
“No Flint” Gray was the best British tacti-
cian of the American Revolution. His stun-
ning victories at Paoli and Old Tappan caught
the rebels by surprise and ensured his reputa-
tion for ruthlessness on the battlefield. The
derision was undeserved, however, for Grey
was simply the war’s most successful expo-
nent of surprise attacks.
Charles Grey was born in Howick, En-
gland, in 1729, the son of Sir Henry Gray,
baronet of Northumberland. Charles joined
the army in 1748 by obtaining an ensign’s
commission, and by December 1752 he was
serving as a lieutenant in the Sixth Regiment
of Foot. An enterprising young officer, he sub-
sequently raised a company of men on his
own and was allowed to join the famous 20th
Regiment, in which James Wolfe served as
lieutenant colonel. Grey then ventured to Ger-
many during the Seven Years’ War (1756–
1763) and was selected to serve as an aide-de-
camp to Ferdinand, the Duke of Brunswick.
He distinguished himself in this capacity at
the 1757 Battle of Minden and was wounded
again at Campen in 1760. Consequently, Grey
was elevated to lieutenant colonel of the 98th
Foot in January 1761, and he accompanied
the successful reduction of Belle Isle off the
coast of Brittany. He subsequently fought
with distinction during the 1762 capture of
Havana before being put on half-pay the fol-
lowing year. Grey still enjoyed a reputation
for daring and efficiency and seemed destined
for high appointment. Accordingly, in 1772 he
reentered the service as a full colonel and
aide-de-camp to King George III.
Grey’s exemplary services at the court
caused him to miss the early stages of the
American Revolution, and it was not until