Edward Boscawen

Edward Boscawen (August 19, 1711 – January 10, 1761) was a British (Cornish) admiral.

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 in the following year he married, and 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 signalized 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 July 15 he was made rear-admiral and commander-in-chief of the expedition to the East Indies. On July 29 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.

Related Topics:
War of the Austrian Succession - 1740 - 1748 - Cartagena - Truro - 1744 - Frigate - Médée - M. de Hocquart - Battle of Finisterre - July 15 - East Indies - July 29 - Fort St David's - Pondicherry

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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 the Trinity House.

Related Topics:
Madras - 1750 - Lords of the Admiralty

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