THE LIFE

OF

GEORGE LORD ANSON.

CHAPTER I.

ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY.

Genealogy of the Anson family-Mistake respecting his educationRises in the service by his own exertions and good conduct-First found serving in the fleet under Sir John Norris-English, Russian, and Danish fleets in the Baltic-Anson appointed to the Hampshire-to the Montague-in Lord Torrington's engagement-Made Commander-Captain of the Scarborough-Sent to South Carolina -Peace with Spain-Returns to England-A great favourite with the settlers of Carolina-Testimony of Mr. Killpatrick-His character by Mrs. Hutchinson-Appointed to the Squirrel, and sent to Georgia and Carolina-Spanish depredations in the West IndiesSpanish inhumanity-Inquiry of a Committee of the House of Commons-Case of Captain Jenkins-a doubtful one-Spanish retaliation-Declaration of War-Anson appointed to the Centurion, and sent to the coast of Africa-then to Barbadoes-Recalled for a special service-Two expeditions proposed-Anson's squadron appointed-The second expedition abandoned-Instructions to Anson of 31st January not delivered till the 28th June-Invalids embarked in lieu of seamen and marines-Impolicy and inhumanity Remonstrance of no avail - Various delays― SailsSpanish squadron-disasters of-Character of Sir Charles WagerAnecdote-Anson's instructions.

-

1697 to 1740.

WILLIAM ANSON, ESQ., of Lincoln's Inn, an eminent barrister in the reign of James I., purchased the mansion of Shugborough in the county of Stafford.

B

To him succeeded his son William, and subsequently his grandson, William Anson, Esq., who died in 1720, leaving two sons and a daughter, namely

1. Thomas, his successor at Shugborough, who died without issue, in 1773.

2. George, the celebrated circumnavigator, who, for his services, was created, in 1747, Baron Anson, a title that became extinct at his death, which happened on the 6th June, 1762: he was united to Elizabeth, daughter of Philip first Earl of Hardwicke, but had no issue.

3. Janetta, died in 1771, having married Sambrooke Adams, Esq., of Sambrooke in the county of Stafford. The only surviving issue of this marriage was George Adams, Esq., who, inheriting the property of both his maternal uncles, assumed the name and arms of Anson. Thomas, his eldest son and heir, was created, in 1806, Viscount Anson of Shugborough and Orgrave in the county of Stafford, and Baron Soberton of Soberton in the county of Hants; he died 31st July, 1818, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Thomas William, the third viscount, who, in 1831, was advanced to the dignity of Earl of Lichfield, the present possessor of that title.

GEORGE ANSON, the second son of William Anson, the subject of this memoir, was born in the parish of Colwich the 23rd April, 1697; but where he received his education, in what ship he first went to sea, and under what captain, none of the existing

generation of his family appear to have any knowledge. In the biographical dictionaries it is stated that he received his nautical instruction on board some ship of war, from Mr. William Jones, the father of the celebrated Sir William Jones, who was a schoolmaster in the navy; and Sir John Shore (afterwards Lord Teignmouth) repeats this in his "Life of Sir William Jones." Speaking of the father, his lordship says, "From his earliest years Mr. Jones discovered a propensity for mathematical studies, and, having cultivated them with assiduity, he began his career in life by teaching mathematics on board a man-of-war; and in this situation attracted the notice and obtained the friendship of Lord (Mr.) Anson. In his twenty-second year Mr. Jones published a treatise on the art of navigation, which was received with great approbation. He was present at the capture of Vigo, in 1702, and, having joined his comrades in quest of pillage, he eagerly fixed upon a bookseller's shop as the object of his depredation; but, finding in it no literary treasures, which were the sole plunder that he coveted, he contented himself with a pair of scissors, which he frequently exhibited to his friends as a trophy of his military success, relating the anecdote by which he gained it. He returned with the fleet to England, and immediately afterwards established himself as a teacher of mathematics in London, where, at the age of twenty-six, he published

his Synopsis Palmeriorum Matheseos-a decisive proof of his early and consummate proficiency in his favourite science."

This may be all correct as to Mr. Jones, but is impossible to be so as regards Mr. Anson; and it is rather surprising that Lord Teignmouth should not have seen this. Mr. Jones was born in 1680, and consequently had left the navy and was settled in London in 1706, when George Anson was only nine years of age; but, as he immediately established himself in London on the return of the fleet from Vigo, Anson could then have been no more than five or six. It is always desirable, where it can be done, to trace back to early youth the education and character of every one who, like Anson, may have had the good fortune to rise to the highest eminence in his profession; for it has generally been found, that traits of the future admiral are observable in the character of the midshipman ;--the inclination of the tree from the bending of the twig. No record was formerly kept in the Admiralty of the services of young gentlemen, who entered the navy, until they had served the required time and passed the necessary examinations, to render them eligible for a lieutenant's commission.*

*After a diligent search at Somerset House, it appears that the name of George Anson is first found, as volunteer, in the books of the Ruby, in January 1712; from the Ruby to the Monmouth, and from this to the Hampshire, where he received his acting order as lieutenant. As Captain Peter Chamberlain commanded all these ships (the Ruby from 1706 to 1712), it is extremely probable that An

But, whatever Anson's education may have been, and under whomsoever brought up, he rose by his own exertions and good conduct, like St. Vincent and Howe, to the height of his profession-Admiral of the Fleet. First Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, a Privy Counsellor, and a peer of the realm. That he did so rise, appears from various quarters, and receives confirmation from a memorandum on the first commission he ever received, written by George Parker, Esq., youngest son of the Chief Baron Parker, which was put into the hands of his son William (the present Sir William Parker) on his first entering the navy. It is as follows: "Lord Anson, our relation by marriage, set out without the least patronage, and worked his own way to a peerage and the First Commissioner of the Admiralty,-an example of encouragement worthy of your attention."

It appears that Anson, in his nineteenth or twen

tieth year, had qualified himself and passed the necessary examinations to render him eligible, for a lieutenant's commission, and was serving in the Hampshire, a frigate in the Baltic fleet, under the command of Admiral Sir John Norris. This fleet had been augmented to eighteen sail of the line, besides frigates and small vessels, in consequence of the Swedes, then at war with Russia, having threatened to capture, and having actually captured, the merchant-vessels

son entered the service under this officer, who, in 1720, was wrecked in the Milford frigate, off the coast of Cuba, when he and nearly the whole of the crew perished.