admiral sir february october written sir officer british_royal_navy long distinguished career late 17th early 18th centuries course service sea saw action numerous battles french spanish navies years separate wars twice captured french action times commended defence ships overwhelming odds died gun rate operations deter french blockading spanish portuguese ports war austrian succession capable efficient officer found wealth prestige fellow officers secured commissions fact remained source frustration elevation shortly death years war born february surviving child gentleman wife home educated took commission royal_navy aged seven years later gained promotion lieutenant period stationed west_indies service lucky health west_indies command considered dangerous period mortality rates sailors stationed high malaria yellow fever high death rate led rapid promotion survived post captain relatively young age years war spent war aboard hms dragon admiral impressed subordinate command prize ship safe conduct england earned step captain war spanish succession majority royal_navy placed reserve war conclusion returned england await deployment whilst married daughter army colonel marriage produced children survived adulthood later married vice admiral temple west george followed father navy sea commanding small hms vulcan sir fleet spanish coast outbreak war spanish succession probably engaged battle bay fleet captured spanish treasure fleet instrumental capture gun went briefly command transferred gun frigate north_sea area great importance british war effort convoys carrying naval supplies scandinavia crossed regularly commission yielded opportunities way prize money year transferred gun dispatched west african coast region considered fatal west_indies surviving remained chester attached convoys bound portugal virginia suffered defeat october leaving safety portsmouth harbour convoy ambushed french squadron battle dozen french warships larger stronger convoy escorts took ship battle warship captains action allowed merchant convoy time disperse escape ensuing battle sided french warships english ships submission hours including command boarded french ships line british warship escaped exploded loss nearly lives french captured merchant ships hundreds convoy english ports catch briefly prisoner france officer allowed return england parole court martial loss ship commended brave defence formally exchanged french officer returned naval service receiving command newly built gun august cruise october sea hours appeared squadron ships line unable opponents engaged gun flagship forced surrender threatened boarding exchanged immediately court martial blame loss ship rewarded bravery command november secured prize gun french gale mediterranean sir returned home period unemployment shore end war spanish succession returned sea gun frigate hms diamond suppression piracy west_indies year received shore position commanding war quadruple alliance war broke experienced officers immediately given sea gun fleet sir arriving mediterranean vice admiral flagship flag captain position remained december year july engaged battle cape spanish fleet defeated great naval action major victory given command gun hms sir served baltic took returned service baltic sir mission resupply besieged gibraltar time fleet arrived siege broken received promotion rear admiral period command gun took gun hms princess commanded support spanish landing returned december promoted vice admiral spending years estates england war austrian succession outbreak war ear spain commanded squadron seven ships tasked spanish convoys caught superior spanish squadron forced withdraw deeper atlantic weeks provoked rumours britain force destroyed got word admiralty retreat years spent time convoy duty came younger active officers substantial fortunes prize money friend spoke glory success pursues people rich purchase lands whilst forced place place loss victory march received command pension forced remain ashore pleased forcibly retired april aged months later recalled admiralty fleet british dutch ships raised hurry rescue british squadron convoy sir trapped french brest squadron shortage officers sufficient experience command fleet kind called short notice rewarded fleet successful driving french retired face superior fleet firing shot hardy convoy escorted safely gibraltar way finally fortune prize money capturing heavily laden french west return journey fleet sailing western approaches early october hit violent storm scattered channel returned england battered leaking condition days later hms victory missing victory flagship time largest ships world holding broadside guns new having completed seven years frigates dispatched english channel search missing battleship seen horizon october captain frigate hms landed heard locals wreckage washed island shores investigation proved wreckage come victory believed run group rocks nearby wreckage washed jersey inhabitants heard distress guns night wreck unable provide aid severe storm sailors aboard victory recovered found approximately miles legacy death met national mourning britain regarded expert veteran commander great talent tactics ship construction popular sailors decks having fought admiralty issues allowing volunteer seamen transfer ship captain giving sailors shore visiting privileges widow allowed pension year following husband death consequent end income whilst son george received promotion post captain george long father dying illness barbados following year aged large memorial memory raised seen relief commemorates career son men lost victory permanent memorial remembered hard working professional recognised readiness accept duty required
John Balchen