In 1691, Churchill was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in the Horse Guards and commanded the 96-gun HMS "St. Andrew" at Barfleur &amp; La Hogue in June 1692. However, the Torrington affair divided the navy and when Russell became First Lord of the Admiralty in 1693, he resigned from the service. He retained his seat as MP and continued his close links with Prince George; when Russell retired in 1699, he was appointed Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty.