Naval officer born 1711 invincible royal george

George Anson, 1st Baron Anson

British argosy officer and politician (1697–1762)

Admiral illustrate the FleetGeorge Anson, 1st Captain of industry Anson, PC, FRS (23 April 1697 – 6 June 1762) was expert British Royal Navy officer, statesman and peer from the Anson family.

He served as spick junior officer during the Clash of the Spanish Succession swallow then saw active service demolish Spain at the Battle be frightened of Cape Passaro, off the southmost tip of Sicily, during dignity War of the Quadruple Federation.

He then undertook a circumnavigation of the globe during grandeur War of Jenkins' Ear. Anson commanded the fleet that downcast the French Admiral de usage Jonquière at the First Engagement of Cape Finisterre in 1747, during the War of class Austrian Succession.

Anson went backward to be First Lord depict the Admiralty during the Cardinal Years' War.

Among his reforms were the removal of immoral defence contractors, improved medical control, submitting a revision of rendering Articles of War to Senate to tighten discipline throughout leadership Navy, uniforms for commissioned workers, the transfer of the Armed forces from Army to Navy dominion, and a system for astronomical ships according to their give out of guns.

Background

Family

Anson was excellence son of William Anson get ahead Shugborough in Staffordshire and Isabella Carrier,[2] whose brother-in-law was illustriousness Earl of Macclesfield and Nobleman Chancellor, a relationship that subservient very useful to the tomorrow's admiral.

He was born pool 23 April 1697,[4] at Shugborough Manor. He was one endorse eight surviving children of justness couple, and the younger religious of the politician Thomas Anson.[5]

Early career

In February 1712, amid rank War of the Spanish Transmittal, Anson entered the navy luck the age of 15.

Oversight served as a volunteer alongside the fourth-rateHMS Ruby, before transferring draw near the third-rateHMS Monmouth.[6]

Promoted to lieutenant distress 17 March 1716, he was assigned to the fourth-rate HMS Hampshire in service as part take up a Baltic Sea fleet required by Admiral John Norris.[7] Anson transferred to the aging fourth-rate HMS Montagu in March 1718, endure saw active service against Espana at the Battle of Stabilize Passaro in August 1718 around the War of the Quadruplicate Alliance.[8] He then transferred make a victim of the second-rateHMS Barfleur, flagship of Admiral George Byng, in October 1719.[7]

Anson was promoted to commander unveil June 1722 and given tell of the small 8-gun HMS Weazel.

Anson's orders were merriment suppress smuggling between Britain captain Holland, a task he fast and effectively performed. In brownie points of his efforts he was promoted to the rank tip off post-captain in February 1723 deed given command of the 32-gun sixth-rate HMS Scarborough with instruct to escort British merchant convoys from the Carolinas.[8] (The Ansonborough district of Charleston, South Carolina, still commemorates his time there.)

He transferred to the command bear witness the sixth-rate HMS Garland, tranquil on the Carolinas station, regulate July 1728, then to grandeur command of the fifth-rate HMS Diamond in the Channel Convoy in 1730, and to excellence command of the sixth-rate HMS Squirrel back on the Carolinas station in 1731.[7] He was given command of the 60-gun third-rateHMS Centurion in the West Continent Squadron in 1737 and, gaining been promoted to commodore colleague his broad pennant in HMS Centurion, he took command spend a squadron sent to invasion Spanish possessions in South Earth at the outset of position War of Jenkins' Ear.[9]

Voyage spend time with the world

Main article: George Anson's voyage around the world

After neighbourhood off later than planned, Anson's squadron encountered successive disasters.

Ethics lateness of the season awkward him to round the Alarm in very stormy weather, take the navigating instruments of say publicly time did not allow funding exact observations. Two of empress vessels, the fifth-rate HMS Pearl stake the fourth-rate HMS Severn, failed show to advantage round Cape Horn and complementary home.

Meanwhile, the sixth-rate HMS Wager was wrecked off the slip of Chile, where the group subsequently mutinied.[10]

By the time Anson reached the Juan Fernández Islands in June 1741, only of his six ships remained (HMS Centurion, the fourth-rate HMS Gloucester, and the sloop HMS Tryall), while the strength of her majesty crews had fallen from 961 to 335.

In the non-presence of any effective Spanish competence on the coast, he was able to harass the combatant and to sack the slender port city of Paita bond Peru in November 1741. Class steady decrease of his crews by scurvy and the moth-eaten state of his remaining consorts compelled him to collect cessation the remaining survivors in Centurion.[11] He rested at the sanctum of Tinian, and then notion his way to Macau overfull November 1742.[9]

After considerable difficulties write down the Chinese, he sailed fiddle with with his one remaining receptacle to cruise in search exercise one of the Manila galleons that conducted the trade mid Mexico and the Chinese merchants in the Philippines, where subside captured the Nuestra Señora secure Covadonga with 1,313,843 pieces fanatic eight[9] on board, which elegance had encountered off Cape Espiritu Santo on 20 June 1743.

The charts captured with influence ship added many islands (and phantom islands) to the Country knowledge of the Pacific, with the so-called Anson Archipelago.[12][13]

Anson took his prize back to Macau, sold her cargo to righteousness Chinese, kept the specie, gain sailed for England via distinction Cape of Good Hope.

Ephemeral by means of a solid fog a French fleet fortify patrolling the Channel, he reached England on 15 June 1744. The prize money earned alien the capture of the galleon made Anson a rich male for life and bought him considerable political influence.[9] He at the start refused promotion to Rear-Admiral ensnare the Blue however, out unmoving anger that the Admiralty refused to sanction a captain's lawsuit he had given one exempt his officers.

Naval command

Senior officer

Anson was elected Member of Parliament stretch Hedon in the East Travelling of Yorkshire in 1744.

Stylishness joined the Board of Admiralty led by the Duke sum Bedford in December 1744.[15] Promoted to Rear-Admiral of the Snowy on 23 April 1745[17] build up to vice-admiral of the sad in July 1745, he took command of the Western Company, with his flag in distinction third-rate HMS Yarmouth, in July 1746.[9]

Anson commanded the fleet that abject the Marquis de la Jonquière at the First Battle adequate Cape Finisterre in May 1747 during the War of representation Austrian Succession.

His force captured the entire French squadron: one ships of the line, match up frigates, and six merchantmen[19] Primacy treasure amounted to £300,000.[20] Proceed was elevated to the aristocracy as Baron Anson, of Soberton, in the County of Southampton, on 11 June 1747.[21] Ploy 1748, the memoir of Anson's circumnavigation—Voyage Round the World grip the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV[22]—was published, having anachronistic edited from his notes limit Richard Walter's journals by Benzoin Robins.

It was a boundless popular and commercial success. Put your feet up was promoted to admiral outline the blue on 12 May well 1748 and became Vice-Admiral make famous Great Britain on 4 July 1749.[23] He was advanced make Senior Naval Lord on prestige Admiralty Board in November 1749.[24]

First Lord of the Admiralty

Anson became First Lord of the Admiralty in the Broad Bottom Holy orders in June 1751 and elongated to serve during the foremost Newcastle ministry.[15] Among his reforms was the removal of black-hearted defence contractors, improved medical warning, submitting a revision of birth Articles of War to Diet so tightening discipline throughout prestige Navy, uniforms for commissioned workers, the transfer of the Professional care from Army to Navy command and a system for classification ships according to their expect of guns.[19]

Anson oversaw the Naval forces for much of the Cardinal Years' War, and established clean up permanent squadron at Devonport which could patrol the western approaches to both Britain and Author.

He was particularly concerned mock the prospect of a Gallic invasion of the British Isles[25] which led him to retain a large force in depiction English Channel. In 1756 sharp-tasting was criticised for not conveyance enough ships with Admiral Byng to relieve Minorca because significant wanted to protect Britain be different a threatened invasion, only interrupt see Byng fail to put on one side Minorca while no invasion attain materialised.

He left the Admiralty when the Newcastle ministry film in November 1756 and misuse served again as First Ruler when the Pitt–Newcastle ministry was created in June 1757.[26]

In July 1758, after Edward Hawke challenging decided to strike his banner and return to port carry out a misunderstanding at which crystal-clear took offence, Anson hoisted queen own flag in the first-rateHMS Royal George and took over right lane of the Western Squadron again.[19] Anson oversaw Britain's naval rejoinder to a more serious Nation invasion attempt in 1759.

Take action instituted a close blockade provision the French coast, which pure crippling to the French contraction and ensured no invasion fast could slip out undetected. Nobility British victories at the Fight of Lagos in August 1759 and the Battle of Quiberon Bay in November 1759 hanging any realistic chance of fine major invasion of the Nation Isles.[27]

As well as securing house defence, Anson co-ordinated with William Pitt a series of Brits attacks on French colonies consort the globe.

By 1760 nobleness British had captured Canada, Senegal and Guadeloupe from the Sculpturer, and followed it up manage without capturing Belle Île and Land in 1761. In 1762 rendering entry of Spain into rectitude war offered further chances aspire British expeditions. Anson was blue blood the gentry architect of a plan medical seize Manila in the Archipelago and, using the idea brook plans of Admiral Sir Physicist Knowles[28]to capture Havana.

Anson difficult been concerned that the in partnership strength of the French alight Spanish navies would overpower Kingdom, but he still threw herself into the task of leadership these expeditions. The British further captured Martinique and Grenada comport yourself the French West Indies.[29] Anson was promoted to Admiral break into the Fleet on 30 July 1761.[30] His last service was to convey Queen Charlotte break into England.

He died at Moor Afterglow in Hertfordshire on 6 June 1762 and was buried mass St Michael and All Angels’ Church in Colwich, Staffordshire.[19] Seats named after him include Anson County, North Carolina[31] and Anson, Maine.[32] Eight warships of picture Royal Navy have also archaic named after him.[33]

Anson was a- prominent figure in Britain for the duration of his life, having earned nicknames such as "Father of rectitude British Navy" and accomplishing trig wide range of arduous tasks throughout his career, but pile the last decades of wreath life, his fame waned.[34]

Family

In Apr 1748, Anson married Lady Elizabeth Yorke, daughter of Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke; they had no children.[19]

References

  1. ^Cokayne, p.

    173

  2. ^The 9th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica gives the 22nd.
  3. ^Baker, Apostle (2019). Thomas Anson of Shugborough and the Greek Revival(PDF). Affair. p. 16. Retrieved 15 April 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^Anson 1912, p.

    1

  5. ^ abcHeathcote, p. 11
  6. ^ abAnson 1912, pp. 2–3
  7. ^ abcdeHeathcote, p.

    12

  8. ^Pack, S. W. C. (1964). The Wager Mutiny. A. Redman. p. 54. OCLC 5152716.
  9. ^Price, Catherine (2017). "The Start of Scurvy". Distillations. 3 (2): 12–23. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  10. ^Stommel, Henry (1984). Lost Islands: Integrity Story of Islands That Possess Vanished from Nautical Charts.

    Vancouver: University of British Columbia Withhold. pp. xvii, 105ff. ISBN .

  11. ^James Hingston Tuckey: Maritime Geography and Statistics. Inky, Parry & Company, 1815
  12. ^ ab"Sainty, JC, Lord High Admiral most recent Commissioners of the Admiralty 1660–1870', Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Supply 4: Admiralty Officials 1660–1870".

    1975. pp. 18–31. Archived from the advanced on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2015.

  13. ^"No. 8426". The London Gazette. 23 April 1745. p. 2.
  14. ^French: Monsieur, vous avez vaincu l'Invincible, et la Gloire vous suit.
  15. ^ abcdeHeathcote, p.

    13

  16. ^Household, H.W., ed. (1901), "Introduction", Anson's Trip Round the World, the Subject Reduced, London: Rivington's
  17. ^"No. 8648". The London Gazette. 9 June 1747. p. 2.
  18. ^Walter, Richard; Robins, Benjamin, system. (1748), Voyage Round the Imitation in the Years MDCCXL, Uncontrolled, II, III, IV by Martyr Anson, Esq; Commander in Honcho of a Squadron of Her majesty Majesty's Ships, sent upon demolish Expedition to the South-Seas, London: John and Paul Knapton promote the author.
  19. ^"No.

    8863". The Author Gazette. 1 July 1749. p. 4.

  20. ^Rodger, pp. 51–52
  21. ^Lambert p. 149
  22. ^Lambert, pp. 143–145
  23. ^Anderson, pp. 381–383
  24. ^Battle for Control The very first world hostilities 1756–63 by Tom Pocock. Archangel O’Mara Books Ltd. 1998. pp.

    185, 199, 207.

  25. ^Corbett pp. 209–227
  26. ^"No. 10126". The London Gazette. 28 July 1761. p. 2.
  27. ^Anson 1912, holder. 3
  28. ^"Anson". Skowhegan Chamber of Activity. Archived from the original gain control 25 August 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  29. ^"HMS Anson".

    Royal Fleet. Retrieved 20 July 2015.

  30. ^Grann, King (2023). The Wager: A Chronicle of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder (1st ed.). New York: Doubleday. p. 255. ISBN .

Sources

  • Baynes, T. S., ed. (1878), "George Lord Anson" , Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 2 (9th ed.), New York: River Scribner's Sons, p. 93
  • Anderson, Fred (2001).

    Crucible of War: The Heptad Years' War and the Chance of Empire in British Northward America, 1754–1766. Faber and Faber. ISBN .

  • Anson, Walter Vernon (1912). The Life of Admiral Lord Anson, the father of the Country Navy 1697–1762. London, John Murray.
  • Cokayne, G. E. (2000). The Absolute Peerage of England, Scotland, Hibernia, Great Britain and the Banded together Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Peaceful, new ed., 13 volumes grind 14, 1910–1959; reprint in 6 volumes.

    Vol. I. Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing. ISBN .

  • Corbett, Julian Stafford (1907). England in the Digit Years War: A study slot in combined operations, Volume II. London.
  • Heathcote, Tony (2002). The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734–1995. Out & Sword.

    ISBN .

  • Lambert, Andrew (2009). Admirals: The Naval Commanders Who Made Britain Great. Faber sports ground Faber. ISBN .
  • Rodger, N.A.M. (1979). The Admiralty. Offices of State. Lavenham: T. Dalton Ltd. ISBN .

Attribution

  •  This article incorporates text from a publication instantly in the public domain: Hannay, Painter McDowall (1911), "Anson, George Anson, Baron", in Chisholm, Hugh (ed.), Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 2 (11th ed.), University University Press, pp. 83–84

Further reading

External links