James Luttrell James Luttrell ( 1751 – 23 December 1788 ) was an officer in the Royal Navy who served during the American War of Independence . He also had a political career as a Member of Parliament . Born into a prominent political family , the younger son of an earl , James Luttrell combined a career in politics with naval service , following in the footsteps of an elder brother . He was promoted to lieutenant in 1770 , and entered parliament in 1775 . From then on his careers were intertwined . He served off the North American coast during the American War of Independence , having some success against privateer s and enemy shipping . He used his parliamentary platform however to oppose the war against the Americans , considering it unjust , but supported strong efforts against the American ' s French and Spanish allies . His political connections ensured his rise through the ranks and he commanded several warships during his career . Luttrell won particular fame after an action he fought in late 1782 , when his ship engaged a powerful convoy of American and French ships and defeated it , capturing two of the vessels and taking them as prizes . King George III commented on his skill and bravery during the fight . Luttrell saw little active service afloat after the end of the American War of Independence , but resumed his political career , voting mainly in the government interest . He was appointed to the post of Surveyor - General of the Ordnance , holding it along with his parliamentary seat until his death at a relatively young age in 1788 . Family and early life . Luttrell was born at Four Oaks , Warwickshire c . 1751 , the youngest surviving son of Simon Luttrell , 1st Earl of Carhampton and his wife Judith Maria . The Luttrells were a significant political family , with James ' s father sitting as member of parliament for several constituencies , and his brothers Henry , John and Temple Simon all sitting in parliament , while Henry and John in turn inherited their father ' s earldom . Like his older brother John , James embarked on a career in the navy , and after a period of service was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on 2 February 1770 . Parliamentary career and command . While pursuing his naval career , Luttrell also took the opportunity to follow his father and older brothers into politics . His brother John had held the seat of UK Parliament constituency with his father , but vacated it in 1775 for James . James contested and won the seat at the by - election on 16 December 1775 . He followed his family ' s stance in opposing the war which broke out with the American colonies , and promoted reconciliation , arguing that " I cannot agree to vote away the lives and properties of my fellow subjects , merely for the purpose of enriching and aggrandising a few favourites and flatterers placed near the throne . " He nevertheless supported strong war measures against France and Spain when they entered the war on the American side . Luttrell ' s father , by now created Lord Irnham , negotiated advancement in the navy for his son , in exchange for political support , but his desire to be advanced to captain clashed with the First Lord of the Admiralty , Lord Sandwich , who argued that a post - captaincy in home waters was " utterly impractical " , but offered instead a recommendation to the commander in chief on one of the foreign stations . Sandwich communicated this to Luttrell ' s fellow MP John Robinson , who advised Luttrell to undertake a cruise , and in late July 1780 Luttrell was appointed first lieutenant of the 64 - gun . Robinson informed Luttrell that Sandwich had promised to keep the " Belliqueux " in home waters , and would arrange for him to be promoted to master and commander at the first opportunity . Luttrell did not have to wait long for this , he had been appointed commander by 20 October 1780 , when he was given command of the 18 - gun sloop for service in the Downs . His service at this rank did not last long , as he was advanced to post - captain on 23 February and on 28 February 1781 was appointed to command the 50 - gun . Luttrell took " Portland " out to Newfoundland in May that year and was active against French and American privateers and warships . In company with he captured two French ships , the 16 - gun " Royal Louis " and 10 - gun " Lion " on 12 July 1781 , and followed this success up capturing , in company with and , the 16 - gun " Disdain " and 6 - gun " Captain " . He left " Portland " after his appointment on 16 March 1782 to take command of the 44 - gun . Convoy battle . On 12 December Luttrell was cruising off Ferrol when a convoy of five sails was sighted , which stood to when Luttrell approached and formed a line of battle . The force consisted of several American and French privateer frigates , storeships and transport vessels under the command of Nicolas Baudin , intending to deliver reinforcements and supplies to America . Baudin , commanding from the 36 - gun " Aimable Eugénie " , had at his disposal the former 64 - gun ship " Ménagère " , now armed " en flute " and mounting 34 - guns , the " Dauphin Royal " of 28 guns , and two American vessels , the 24 - gun " Alexander " under Stephen Gregory , and the 14 - gun brig " American " . Together the five ships had nearly 600 men and considerably more guns than the " Mediator " . Luttrell closed the ships , and exchanged fire with them , eventually breaking their line and forcing them to flee . Luttrell then cut off the " Alexander " and forced her to surrender , before pursuing the remaining ships . By the evening he had caught up with the " Ménagère " and after an exchange of fire , forced her to surrender . The surviving ships were still in sight on the morning of 13 December , but Luttrell had a large number of prisoners to guard , and with the hostile Spanish coast nearby , decided to head for a British port with his prizes . He had taken 340 prisoners , and only had 190 men to guard them . Six men had been killed and four wounded on " Alexander " , while " Ménagère " had four killed and eight wounded . There were no casualties on " Mediator " , their opponents having being aiming at their masts and rigging in an attempt to disable the British ship . The captured prisoners made an attempt to seize the " Mediator " during the voyage to Britain , but prompt action by the ship ' s officers quashed the rising without bloodshed . Captain Gregory was shown to be the main instigator of the plot , and he and several accomplices were placed in irons for the remainder of the voyage . The capture of the heavily armed and manned convoy was greeted with considerable applause back in Britain . Marine artist Thomas Luny painted a depiction of the action , while Dominic Serres produced several views of the battle . King George III wrote to Lord Keppel , the First Lord of the Admiralty , that " The skill as well as bravery shown by Captain Luttrell . . . deserve much approbation . " Later career . Following his success as captain of the " Mediator " , Luttrell was moved to command the 74 - gun in April 1783 , " Ganges " then serving as the guard ship at Portsmouth . He continued to be active in parliament as the American War of Independence drew to a close , likely supporting the Shelburne Ministry ' s peace proposals , and launching an attack on Sandwich , blaming him for having failed to prepare the navy adequately for the war , and for having mismanaged it during it . He played a less prominent role in the Pitt administration , usually avoiding party questions but supporting independents . He was appointed Surveyor - General of the Ordnance in early 1784 , King George writing to Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger on 30 March 1784 that " Mr . James Luttrell I have always understood to be the best of that strange family , I have therefore signed the appointment of him as surveyor of the Ordnance . " James Luttrell left his Stockbridge seat at the 1784 election to contest UK Parliament constituency , which he won with government support . He sat for Dover , voting for the government interest , while holding his post as Surveyor - General of the Ordnance , until his death on 23 December 1788 from consumption .