Edward Riou

Captain Edward Riou (* November 20, 1762, † April 2, 1801 ) was an officer in the British Royal Navy.

Riou joined at a young age in the Navy. In 1780 he was promoted to lieutenant. Nine years later, he commanded the Guardian that would take other ships of the Second Fleet convicts, supplies, and staff from the UK to Australia. After the ship had sprung a leak on the way from the Cape of Good Hope to Port Royal by contact with an iceberg and the rudder was damaged left much of the retained on board the ship with five boats, one of which reached only a one port. 62 people, including 21 of the 25 prisoners were on board and made ​​it back by constantly Lenzen and sealing the leaks to the Cape. He managed to keep the convicts under discipline and thanked after arriving with a positive report, which gave the prisoners a partial amnesty. Riou was promoted for it.

He was no longer commander and was transferred in 1781. He took 1794 Sir John Jervis part in the operations to Martinique and Guadeloupe. On the Amazon in 1801 he accompanied the expedition of Sir Hyde Parker in the Baltic Sea. His frigate led at the Battle of Copenhagen, the fleet on its way through the channel at Copenhagen. In the battle he was placed under Commodore as a light squadron Nelson's department. Since three ships of the line ran on reason to Riou and his frigates to the full firepower of the battery of Trekroner saw exposed. Early in the fight he was surprised, but refused to leave the deck. When he sitting the fire of his men ran on a gun carriage, he was killed by a cannon ball. Nelson, who had not met Riou before this battle, then spoke of an irreparable loss.

The naval historian Sir Jahleel Brenton (1770-1844) stated that he had all the qualities of a perfect officer. The Parliament commemorates Riou in a memorial service at St. Paul's Cathedral.