Anne McHardy Parker

Who was Anne McHardy Parker?

Anne McHardy Parker was the wife of Richard Parker, the "President of the Fleet" during the 1797 Nore mutiny. She is known primarily for her efforts to prevent her husband's execution, then after failing this, for her efforts to see his body honored and decently buried. The Nore and related mutinies were part of a decade long series of agitations, protests and revolts concerning conditions of service in the navy, chiefly that pay had not increased from 1653 levels, the impressment of sailors to keep the navy manned, the fact shore leave was forbidden and dis-satisfaction with on-board conditions.