Born into a politically well-connected family, Thomas Grenville rose quickly through the naval ranks to his first commands during the War of the Austrian Succession. A fortunate encounter while in his first command brought him a valuable prize, while political influence ensured he received prime postings. He was to have gone on an independent cruise early in 1747, but the requirements of the service meant that he was instead attached to the fleet in the Atlantic under George Anson. Anson came across a French fleet under the Marquis de la Jonquière, off Cape Finisterre and attacked them in the Battle of Cape Finisterre. He won a decisive victory, but Grenville was among the casualties, having been wounded in the leg, and subsequently dying of his injuries after a few hours. His body was returned to England for burial, and a memorial was raised to his memory by his relative, at Stowe House.
Thomas Grenville was born on 4 April 1719, the seventh son of the politician Richard Grenville.[1][2] His older brothers, George and Richard, also became distinguished politicians.[2] George served as Prime Minister between 1763 and 1765. Thomas was brother-in-law to William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. He was politically close to both men as all were Cobham Cubs of the Patriot Whig persuasion, a grouping led by his uncle Lord Cobham.
Thomas Grenville entered the Royal Navy, and had risen to the rank of lieutenant by 1740, and captain by 1742.[1] He was given command of the 50-gun HMS Romney on 6 April 1742, and while sailing off Cape St. Vincent in March 1743, he captured a Spanish ship sailing from Veracruz to Cadiz with an extremely valuable cargo, valued at £120,000 or £130,000,. In a letter to his brother George, Grenville estimated his share as being probably between £30,000 and £40,000, but it does not seem to have actually amounted to more than half.[1][2] He was then appointed to the 50-gun HMS Falkland and served off the coast of Ireland.[2]
Grenville was moved to the 60-gun HMS Defiance in 1746, and was elected as MP for the naval town of Bridport on 12 December 1746.[1][2] He was ordered on an independent cruise in early 1747, due of the influence of his brother George, who was at this time one of the lords of the admiralty, but at the last moment his orders were changed and Grenville was ordered to join the fleet under George Anson. The change in orders caused annoyance, though Anson wrote to George Grenville to promise that he would detach Thomas as soon as he was able.[1][2]
On 3 May, Anson came across a French squadron, under the command of the Marquis de la Jonquière, off Cape Finisterre and attacked them. In the Battle of Cape Finisterre, Anson won a decisive victory, but Grenville was among the casualties. He had been hit by a large splinter two hours into the engagement, which smashed his left thigh. The leg was at once amputated, but Grenville succumbed to his wounds five hours later.[1][2][3] His body was returned to England, where George Lyttelton wrote that the joy of the victory "is palled to our family by the loss of poor Captain Grenville, one of the most promising young men in the navy, and who, had he lived, would have been an honour not to his family only, but to his country."[2] Thomas Grenville was buried at the family seat in Wotton Underwood. His uncle, Lord Cobham, raised a column to his memory in the grounds of his house at Stowe.[2]
Notesedit
a.^ The dates in the article are in the Old Style, from the Julian calendar which was then in use in Britain.
Citationsedit
^ abcdefSedgwick (ed.). "Grenville, Thomas (1719-47)". The History of Parliament.
^ abcdefghiLaughton. "Grenville, Thomas (1719–1747)". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 23. p. 132.
thomas, grenville, royal, navy, officer, thomas, grenville, april, 1719, 1747, officer, royal, navy, member, parliament, bridport, service, during, austrian, succession, thomas, grenvilleportrait, allan, ramsayborn, 1719, april, 1719died3, 1747, 1747, aged, ab. Thomas Grenville 4 April 1719 3 May 1747 a was an officer of the Royal Navy and Member of Parliament for Bridport He saw service during the War of the Austrian Succession Thomas Grenvilleportrait by Allan RamsayBorn 1719 04 14 14 April 1719Died3 May 1747 1747 05 03 aged 28 Aboard HMS Defiance off Cape FinisterreBuriedWotton Underwood BuckinghamshireAllegiance Great Britain British EmpireService wbr branch Royal NavyYears of service 1747RankPost CaptainCommands heldHMS Romney HMS Falkland HMS DefianceBattles warsWar of the Austrian Succession Battle of Cape FinisterreRelationsRichard Grenville father Hester Grenville 1st Countess Temple mother George Grenville brother Richard Grenville Temple 2nd Earl Temple brother Born into a politically well connected family Thomas Grenville rose quickly through the naval ranks to his first commands during the War of the Austrian Succession A fortunate encounter while in his first command brought him a valuable prize while political influence ensured he received prime postings He was to have gone on an independent cruise early in 1747 but the requirements of the service meant that he was instead attached to the fleet in the Atlantic under George Anson Anson came across a French fleet under the Marquis de la Jonquiere off Cape Finisterre and attacked them in the Battle of Cape Finisterre He won a decisive victory but Grenville was among the casualties having been wounded in the leg and subsequently dying of his injuries after a few hours His body was returned to England for burial and a memorial was raised to his memory by his relative at Stowe House Contents 1 Family and early career 2 Later career and death 3 Notes 4 Citations 5 ReferencesFamily and early career editThomas Grenville was born on 4 April 1719 the seventh son of the politician Richard Grenville 1 2 His older brothers George and Richard also became distinguished politicians 2 George served as Prime Minister between 1763 and 1765 Thomas was brother in law to William Pitt 1st Earl of Chatham He was politically close to both men as all were Cobham Cubs of the Patriot Whig persuasion a grouping led by his uncle Lord Cobham Thomas Grenville entered the Royal Navy and had risen to the rank of lieutenant by 1740 and captain by 1742 1 He was given command of the 50 gun HMS Romney on 6 April 1742 and while sailing off Cape St Vincent in March 1743 he captured a Spanish ship sailing from Veracruz to Cadiz with an extremely valuable cargo valued at 120 000 or 130 000 In a letter to his brother George Grenville estimated his share as being probably between 30 000 and 40 000 but it does not seem to have actually amounted to more than half 1 2 He was then appointed to the 50 gun HMS Falkland and served off the coast of Ireland 2 Later career and death edit nbsp Column erected to Grenville s memory at Stowe House by his uncle Lord Cobham Grenville was moved to the 60 gun HMS Defiance in 1746 and was elected as MP for the naval town of Bridport on 12 December 1746 1 2 He was ordered on an independent cruise in early 1747 due of the influence of his brother George who was at this time one of the lords of the admiralty but at the last moment his orders were changed and Grenville was ordered to join the fleet under George Anson The change in orders caused annoyance though Anson wrote to George Grenville to promise that he would detach Thomas as soon as he was able 1 2 On 3 May Anson came across a French squadron under the command of the Marquis de la Jonquiere off Cape Finisterre and attacked them In the Battle of Cape Finisterre Anson won a decisive victory but Grenville was among the casualties He had been hit by a large splinter two hours into the engagement which smashed his left thigh The leg was at once amputated but Grenville succumbed to his wounds five hours later 1 2 3 His body was returned to England where George Lyttelton wrote that the joy of the victory is palled to our family by the loss of poor Captain Grenville one of the most promising young men in the navy and who had he lived would have been an honour not to his family only but to his country 2 Thomas Grenville was buried at the family seat in Wotton Underwood His uncle Lord Cobham raised a column to his memory in the grounds of his house at Stowe 2 Notes edita The dates in the article are in the Old Style from the Julian calendar which was then in use in Britain Citations edit a b c d e f Sedgwick ed Grenville Thomas 1719 47 The History of Parliament a b c d e f g h i Laughton Grenville Thomas 1719 1747 Dictionary of National Biography Vol 23 p 132 Brown William Pitt Earl of Chatham p 81 References editSedgwick Romney R 1970 Grenville Thomas 1719 47 In Sedgwick R ed The History of Parliament the House of Commons 1715 1754 Boydell and Brewer Retrieved 13 April 2013 Laughton J K 1890 Grenville Thomas 1719 1747 Dictionary of National Biography Vol 23 London Elder Smith amp Co Brown Peter Douglas 1978 William Pitt Earl of Chatham The Great Commoner George Allen amp Unwin Parliament of Great Britain Preceded byViscount DeerhurstGeorge Richards Member of Parliament for Bridport1746 1747 With Viscount Deerhurst Succeeded byViscount DeerhurstJames Grenville Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Grenville Royal Navy officer amp oldid 1192872434, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
