Boscawen, EDWARD

Boscawen, EDWARD, an eminent English admiral, third son of Viscount Falmouth, was born 19th August 1711, and highly distinguished himself at the taking of Puerto Bello, and at the siege of Carthagenia in 1741. Successively in command of the Prince Frederick and the Dreadnought, in the latter in April 1744 he captured the French ship Medée, with 800 prisoners. He had an important share in the victory off Cape Finisterre (3d May 1747), where he was wounded in the shoulder; and six months after receiving the command of the East Indian expedition, he displayed high military skill in conducting the retreat from Pondicherry. He returned in 1750, and in the following year became a lord of the Admiralty. In 1755 he was again afloat, and intercepted the French fleet off Newfoundland, capturing two 64-gun ships and 1500 men. In 1757 he was appointed second in command of the main fleet under Hawke, and in 1758, now admiral of the blue, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the successful expedition against Cape Breton. Boscawen crowned his career by his signal victory over the French Toulon fleet in the Bay of Lagos, 18th August 1759. On his return home, he received the thanks of parliament, a pension of £3000 a year, a seat in the Privy-council, and the command of the marines. In the following summer he commanded the fleet in the Bay of Quiberon. He died 10th January 1761. Boscawen was notable for his ready and decisive courage; amongst the sailors he was known as 'Old Dreadnought.'