Admiral Edward Boscawen, PC, RN (19 August 1711 – 10 January 1761) was a British admiral and politician.
Boscawen was the third son of Hugh Boscawen, 1st Viscount Falmouth. He entered the Royal Navy early, and, in 1730, distinguished himself at the taking of Porto Bello. Over his career, his aggressiveness in battle and many victories earned him the nicknames "Old Dreadnaught" and "Wry-necked Dick."
War of the Austrian Succession
Boscawen's reputation continued to grow during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740—1748). At the siege of Cartagena in March 1741, he led a party of seamen to take a battery of fifteen 24-pound cannon, while exposed to the fire of another fort. On his return to England the following year, he married Frances Evelyn, daughter of William Glanville Evelyn of St Clare, Kent. Also in 1742 he entered Parliament as member for Truro. In 1744, he captured the French frigate Médée, commanded by M. de Hocquart, the first ship taken in the war. In May 1747, he distinguished himself in the first Battle of Finisterre, and was wounded in the shoulder with a musket ball. Hocquart again became his prisoner, and all ten French ships were taken. On 15 July he was made rear-admiral and commander-in-chief of the expedition to the East Indies. On 29 July 1748 he arrived off Fort St David's, and soon after laid siege to Pondicherry, but the sickness of his men and the approach of the monsoons led to the raising of the siege.
Soon afterwards, he received news of the peace, and Madras was delivered up to him by the French. In April 1750, he arrived in England, and was the next year made one of the Lords of the Admiralty, and chosen an elder brother of Trinity House. At this time, he bought Hatchlands Park and rebuilt it.
Seven Years' War
Immediately before and during the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), Boscawen's successes continued. In February 1755, he was appointed vice-admiral, and on June 8, 1755, he intercepted the French squadron bound to North America, and took the Alcide and Lys of sixty-four guns each. Hocquart became his prisoner for the third time, and Boscawen returned to Spithead with his prizes and 1,500 prisoners. For this exploit, he received the thanks of Parliament.
In 1758, he was appointed Admiral of the Blue and commander-in-chief of the expedition to Cape Breton, where, in conjunction with General Amherst, he took the Fortress of Louisburg, and the island of Cape Breton--services for which he again received the thanks of the House of Commons. His brother, Colonel George Boscawen, commanded the 29th Regiment of Foot also at Fortress Louisburg. In Nova Scotia, Governor Charles Lawrence invited Boscawen to attend the colonial council, and he may have been involved in the decision that led to the Great Expulsion of 10,000 Acadians in 1755.
Boscawen's greatest victory came in 1759. France was planning to send an invasion force from Brest, but needed to rendezvous its fleet to protect the force during the crossing. Being appointed to command in the Mediterranean, Boscawen pursued the French fleet commanded by M. de la Clue, and after a sharp engagement in the Battle of Lagos took three large ships and burnt two, returning to Spithead with his prizes and 2,000 prisoners. The victory prevented France from assembling a fleet to cover their planned invasion.
In December 1760, he was appointed general of the marines, with a salary of £3000 per annum, and was also sworn a member of the Privy Council.
He died of a fever in 1761 and is buried in a tomb in St. Michael's churchyard, Penkivel, Cornwall. The town of Boscawen, New Hampshire is named after him, as are Boscawen Street and Park in Truro, Cornwall.
Quotes
"To be sure I lose the fruits of the earth, but then, I am gathering the flowers of the Sea" (1756) [1]
References
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