Sir Robert Harland, 1st Baronet

Admiral Sir Robert Harland, 1st Baronet (ca. 1715 – 21 February 1784) was a Royal Navy officer who became Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Station.

Naval career
Born the son of Captain Robert Harland, Harland joined the Royal Navy in 1729 when he was appointed a Volunteer-per-order on HMS Falkland. He was present as a lieutenant on HMS Princessa at the Battle of Toulon on 11 February 1744. He was given command of HMS Scipio in 1745 and of HMS Tilbury in 1746 and took part in Second Battle of Cape Finisterre on 14 October 1747. He was then appointed to HMS Nottingham later that year. He commanded HMS Monarch from 1748 and HMS Essex from 1755 before transferring to HMS Conqueror in 1758. In 1759 he transferred to HMS Princess Louisa and took part in the Battle of Lagos on 18 August 1759.

He was promoted to rear-admiral of the blue in 1770 and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Station in 1771 remaining there until 1775. He was further promoted to vice-admiral of the blue in 1775 and vice-admiral of the red in 1778 before becoming second in command of the Channel Fleet and fighting at the Battle of Ushant on 27 July 1778. He was appointed to the Board of the Admiralty in 1782 and was promoted to admiral of the blue later that year.

Family
In 1749 he married Susanna Reynold; they had three daughters and a son.