Peter Parker was born in Ireland in 1721. A career naval officer, in 1776 he was a commodore when he led an attack against Fort Moultrie and other Patriot defenses outside Charleston, South Carolina. After a long battle he was unable to dislodge the Americans and had to order a retreat. He then commanded several naval operations around New York and became an admiral. He died in London, England on December 21, 1811.