▁As ▁a ▁junior ▁officer ▁he ▁saw ▁action ▁at ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁the ▁Sain tes ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 7 8 2 ▁during ▁the ▁American ▁Revolution ary ▁War . ▁He ▁commanded ▁ ▁at ▁the ▁defeat ▁of ▁the ▁Dutch ▁fleet ▁in ▁August ▁ 1 7 9 5 ▁during ▁the ▁French ▁Revolution ary ▁Wars ▁and ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁be ▁First ▁Naval ▁Lord ▁during ▁the ▁closing ▁stages ▁of ▁the ▁Napole onic ▁Wars . ▁ ▁Family ▁and ▁early ▁life ▁Y or ke ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Great ▁Ber kh amp st ead , ▁H ert ford shire , ▁on ▁ 6 ▁June ▁ 1 7 6 8 , ▁the ▁second ▁son , ▁by ▁his ▁second ▁marriage , ▁of ▁the ▁politician ▁Charles ▁Y or ke . ▁He ▁joined ▁the ▁n avy ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 1 1 , ▁becoming ▁a ▁mid ship man ▁ab o ard ▁, ▁then ▁under ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁Sir ▁Charles ▁Douglas , ▁on ▁ 1 5 ▁February ▁ 1 7 8 0 . ▁He ▁followed ▁Douglas ▁to ▁his ▁next ▁command , ▁, ▁which ▁fle w ▁the ▁flag ▁of ▁Admir al ▁George ▁Rod ney . ▁Y or ke ▁was ▁then ▁present ▁at ▁Rod ney ' s ▁victory ▁over ▁François ▁Joseph ▁Paul ▁de ▁Gr asse ▁at ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁the ▁Sain tes ▁from ▁ 9 ▁to ▁ 1 2 ▁April ▁ 1 7 8 2 . ▁The ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁American ▁Revolution ary ▁War ▁led ▁to ▁the ▁Form id able ▁returning ▁to ▁Britain ▁to ▁be ▁paid ▁off . ▁Y or ke ▁remained ▁in ▁employ ment ▁however ,