Who was first black officer commissioned as lieutenant in the Royal Navy ?
The first BLACK OFFICER IN THE ROYAL NAVY was Captain John Perkins, born in Jamaica possibly as a slave, who was commissioned as lieutenant in command of the brig Endeavour of the Jamaica Squadron in 1782. Formerly he had served as a pilot extra of the Jamaica Squadron’s flagship and had commanded the Punch schooner with brilliant success’. He was promoted to Commander in 1797 and Captain in 1800, commanding the Arab and Tartar frigates. Captain Perkins retired in 1805 because of ill-health and died at Kingston in 1812. He is possibly the only officer of the Royal Navy never to set foot in England.
