Edward Vernon

Edward Vernon ("Old Grog") (1684–1757) was a English naval officer.

Related Topics:
1684 - 1757 - English

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In the War of the Spanish Succession he served at the Battle of Malaga in 1704 and at the Battle of Barcelona in 1705. In the War of Jenkin's Ear in 1739 he commanded a fleet that captured the Spanish colonial possession of Porto Bello (now in Panama), and unsuccessfully attacked Cartagena de Indias in Neuva Granada (now Colombia).

Related Topics:
War of the Spanish Succession - Battle of Malaga - 1704 - Battle of Barcelona - 1705 - War of Jenkin's Ear - 1739 - Spanish - Porto Bello - Panama - Cartagena de Indias - Neuva Granada - Colombia

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His enduring claim to fame was his 1740 order that his sailors' rum should be diluted with water. The rest of the Royal Navy rapidly followed his lead, calling the new drink "grog" after Vernon's nickname.

Related Topics:
1740 - Rum - Royal Navy - Grog - Nickname

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(second version, to merge)

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Admiral Edward Vernon (1684-1757), Port Royal Commodore and Admiral of the White, became a hero in England on his capture of Porto Bello in Panama at the start of the War of Jenkin's Ear against the Spanish in November 1739. Vernon was the commodore of Port Royal in Jamaica in 1720 and Naval Commander in Chief of all His Majesty's ships in the West Indies from 1739 to 1742. The Portobello areas in both London and Dublin are named for Vernon's victory, and Rule Britannia was composed by Thomas Arne during the celebratory frenzy of 1740. However Vernon's reputation was later damaged by the repulsion of his invasion force of 23 600 men and 186 ships by the Spanish colonial defenders of Cartagena de Indias of just 3000 men and 6 ships in 1741. George Washington's half-brother, Lawrence Washington, had served on Vernon's flagship as a Captain of the Marines in 1741 and named his estate Mount Vernon in honour of his impressive commander but, despite his heroic status, Vernon's fiery and difficult temper lead to fractious relationships with various governors of Jamaica, and with his navy superiors, and he was ultimately dismissed from the Royal Navy in 1746. His nickname was 'Old Grog'.

Related Topics:
1684 - 1757 - Port Royal - Admiral - Hero - England - Porto Bello - Panama - War of Jenkin's Ear - Spanish - November - 1739 - Commodore - Jamaica - 1720 - West Indies - 1742 - Portobello - London - Dublin - Victory - Rule Britannia - Thomas Arne - 1740 - Cartagena de Indias - George Washington - Half-brother - Lawrence Washington - Flagship - Captain - Marines - 1741 - Mount Vernon - Governor - Navy - Royal Navy - 1746 - Nickname

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