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Biography
Vice-Admiral Samuel Reeve (c. 1733 – 5 May 1803) was an officer of the British Royal Navy who saw service in the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars.
in 1779 he was captain of HMS Surprize, seizing American privateers Monmouth, Wild Cat and Jason off the coast of Newfoundland. On 20 January 1780 Surprize captured French privateer Duguay Trouin, and in January 1781 captured Les Sept Freres.
In the French Revolutionary Wars, Reeve was captain of HMS Captain with the Mediterranean Fleet under Lord Hood. In October 1793 he was ordered, along with HMS Bedford and HMS Speedy, to attack a French frigate Modeste anchored in the harbour at Genoa. The Raid on Genoa was a success, and six days later Reeve discovered and captured the abandoned French ship Impérieuse at La Spezia.
Reeve was promoted to vice-admiral in 1799, andretired to his home near Ipswich. On 5 May 1803 Reeve was riding in a chaise near his home when the horse bolted. Reeve was flung from the chaise and was killed immediately, suffering a broken neck.