Savage Mostyn Savage Mostyn ( c . 1713 – 16 September 1757 ) was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years ' War . He embarked on a political career , and was a Member of Parliament , Comptroller of the Navy , and one of the Lords of the Admiralty . Mostyn was born c . 1713 into a well connected family . He went to sea and quickly rose through the ranks to command his own ships . By the outbreak of the War of the Austrian Succession he was a captain , and served with several of the leading naval officers of the day in operations off the British coast , and in the Caribbean . While sailing off the French coast in 1744 , Mostyn became involved in an incident which almost blighted his career . His squadron chased down several French ships , with Mostyn being close to engaging them , but considering the risks of attacking while unsupported too great , he drew away and allowed the French to escape . His actions were approved of by the Admiralty , but sensitive to criticism , Mostyn demanded a court martial , which acquitted him of blame . Public opinion was against him however , especially when it was learnt that Mostyn ' s powerful relations may have had a hand in influencing the court . His naval career was largely unaffected however , and he served in several cruising squadrons and captured a number of privateer s . He entered politics in 1747 , representing the constituency of Weobley until his death , and was involved in the administration of the navy as Comptroller , and as a Lord of the Admiralty . He was advanced to flag rank and served in a junior role in commanding several of the fleets of the Seven Years ' War , until his death in 1757 . Family and early life . Savage Mostyn was born circa 1713 , a younger son of Sir Roger Mostyn , 3rd Baronet , and his wife Lady Essex Finch , the daughter of Daniel Finch , 7th Earl of Winchilsea . He entered Westminster School at the age of eleven in June 1725 , and afterwards appears to have entered the navy , as he is recorded as having been appointed lieutenant of the 60 - gun on 2 March 1734 . He went on to serve aboard the 100 - gun during her time as the flagship of Sir John Norris , before being advanced to his own command , that of the fireship , on 3 July 1739 . " Duke " was attached to Rear - Admiral Nicholas Haddock ' s fleet off Cadiz , and having impressed Haddock , Mostyn was given command of the 24 - gun on 17 December 1739 . The Admiralty confirmed him in his rank on 6 March 1740 . He went on to serve on several ships in quick succession during 1740 , taking command of the 24 - gun in April , and later that year moving to the 60 - gun . With " Deptford " Mostyn went out to the West Indies with Sir Chaloner Ogle ' s fleet , and later served under Vice - Admiral Edward Vernon , during the attempts to capture Cartagena in March and April 1741 . Mostyn took command of the 70 - gun in December 1743 and joined Sir John Norris ' s fleet . He was present with Norris off Dungeness on 24 February 1744 , when the British intercepted a French fleet under the Comte de Rocquefeuil which was carrying troops for a planned invasion of Britain . Norris chased the French fleet away , until they were scattered by a storm . Chasing the French . Mostyn took command of the 70 - gun in April 1744 and was assigned to Sir John Balchen ' s fleet . By early 1745 Mostyn was cruising off Ushant with three other ships , , and . On 6 January they fell in with three French ships ; " Neptune " , " Fleuron " and " Mars " , and chased them . " Neptune " and " Fleuron " were 74 - gun ships , while " Mars " was a smaller vessel , a former English privateer . " Mars " broke away from the other two French ships , and was pursued by " Captain " , which captured the French ship that evening . " Sunderland " lost her fore - topmast and fell behind , leaving " Hampton Court " and " Dreadnought " to pursue the remaining two French ships alone . Mostyn soon closed on the French , but " Dreadnought " still lagged behind . After waiting another day and night in the hope that " Dreadnought " would catch up , Mostyn abandoned the chase , fearing that he was too close to the French shore , and that he would be overwhelmed by the combined firepower of his opponents if he attacked alone . After his return to port , Mostyn justified his actions , claiming that the choppy , squally weather caused his ship to heel over so far as to render his lower gunports inoperable , while the French vessels sat higher in the water and could have used theirs . Without " Dreadnought " to support him , Mostyn argued that he could have been overwhelmed , had he risked an attack . Controversy . The Admiralty accepted the explanation , and the matter might have passed , had Mostyn not written to the Navy Board to request his masts be replaced with smaller ones . The Board declined the request , replying that ' as there has never been any Complaint , of her before , that She will do very well . ' Mostyn read into the reply an imputation that he was inventing a cause for his recent failure that did not exist . He immediately petitioned for a court martial to examine his conduct , to which the Admiralty acquiesced . Mostyn was duly acquitted , the court determining that he had done ' his duty as an experienced good Officer , and as a Man of Courage and Conduct . ' Shortly afterwards a pamphlet appeared , entitled " An Enquiry into the Conduct of Captain Mostyn " . It was anonymous , though the author was probably Admiral Edward Vernon . The author criticised the findings of the court , accusing them of having been led and coached by Mostyn ' s powerful cousin , Daniel Finch , 8th Earl of Winchilsea , and of whitewashing Mostyn ' s negligent conduct during the chase . Public opinion in general was also against Mostyn , and nearly a year after the verdict he was jeered out of Portsmouth Dockyard by workmen and sailors calling out ‘ All ' s well ! there ' s no Frenchman in the way ! ’ Continued service . Despite these proceedings , Mostyn remained in command of " Hampton Court " , and joined William Martin ' s squadron later in 1745 . He enjoyed some considerable success against enemy cruisers and privateers , capturing " Diane " on 4 May 1745 , and the 32 - gun " Lis " in December that year . He captured several more privateers over the next few years , " Dauphin " on 27 January 1746 , and the 20 - gun " Comte de Lowendahl " in the Western Channel on 4 March 1747 . He was with a squadron when they fell in with a convoy being escorted by Comte Dubois de la Motte on 20 June 1747 , and took 48 merchants as prizes . Several more privateers were taken during 1747 , " Triomphant " on 23 June , " Grand San Juan " on 7 December , and the 20 - gun " Thétis " on 9 December . " Hampton Court " cruised with Sir Peter Warren ' s fleet in 1748 . Politics and high office . Mostyn entered politics in 1747 , with his election in July that year as Member of Parliament for the Herefordshire constituency of Weobley . He used the position to support the government , and held the seat until his death . He was appointed Comptroller of the Navy on 22 March 1749 , having to manage the repair of old ships and the construction of new ones during the peace , when the dockyard workforces were being reduced . He is sometimes credited with the introduction of standardised uniforms for naval officers during his time as Comptroller , though an order in council establishing uniform clothing exists dating from 10 February 1747 . Mostyn returned to active service with the outbreak of the French and Indian War , receiving a promotion to rear - admiral on 4 February 1755 . He went out to North America in summer that year as second in command of the fleet under Vice - Admiral Edward Boscawen , and spent 1756 as second in command of the western squadron , serving successively under Edward Hawke , Boscawen , and Sir Charles Knowles . He became one of the junior lords of the Admiralty between April and June 1757 , under the brief administration of his cousin , and died shortly afterwards , on 16 September 1757 . He was unmarried , and left £60 , 000 to his nephew , Roger Mostyn . Notes . a . " Lis " was taken into the Royal Navy as the 26 - gun sixth rate . < br >