Thomas McWard

"Do NOTHING to Provoke War before war is declared"
=== Early Life and Education ===
Thomas Jonathan McWard was born in the town of Manchester in January of 1721. His father, John McWard was a Captain in the Royal Navy and a member of Parliament who fought for the British in the Great Northern War. His mother, Lady Elizabeth Stuart, was the daughter of a magistrate of George I. Sadly, she died from complications following his birth.
Thomas always dreamed of being a Naval sailor since he was four years old. Growing up near a wharf, he would sometimes head down to the docks and watch the ships come in. When he turned sixteen, his father sent him to Oxford University where he studied law and foreign policy. He graduated in 1741. At the age of twenty, against his fathers wishes, he applied and was accepted into the Royal Navy Academy of England. He graduated from the Academy in 1744 as a Naval Navigator and Lieutenant and immediately enlisted in the War of Austrian Succession.
== Navy Career ==
In late 1744, a then Lieutenant McWard was fighting against the Spanish at the Battle of Toulon in France. He was aboard the ship HMS Vanguard under the command of Admiral William Rowley. Midway into the battle, the Spanish hit and sank the Vanguard. The HMS Lynx noticed this and immediately came to their aid. Once aboard, McWard spotted his father approaching him. Although furious at first with his son for disobeying him, John eventually gave in to Thomas's actions on the condition that he served under him. He agreed and fought alongside him for the next two years.
=== War of Austrian Succession (1744-45) ===
In the late spring of 1745, Thomas and his father were patrolling with their fleet in the Caribbean. In the early morning on May 21st, 1745, The Royal Navy awoke to a French fleet attacking them. They were surrounded by two French warships and two Dutch vessels. Thomas acted quickly and retreated their ship HMS Lynx away from the enemy. He ported the vessel in a nearby bay.
British commander Arthur Hodge, who was governor of Anguilla at the time, ordered his troops to form into three platoons and then posted them into a well hidden trench. One of which was commanded by John McWard. 
Realizing the French were forming an ambush, John ordered his army of 22 to carefully advance around the ambush. During this action, John was hit in the leg by a French soldier. Thomas acted quickly and carried him through the enemy fire onto a British lifeboat.
Although they were heavily outnumbered, Thomas took his father's place in command and formed a successful counterattack causing the French to retreat back to their boats resulting in a British victory. At the age of only 24, Royal Navy Lieutenant Thomas McWard had made a name for himself saving not only his father, but the British troops as well. His father eventually recovered from his wounds and sailed back to England with his son to command a Naval post in Manchester. 
=== The Royal Army and The Jacobite Rising (1745-46) ===
On November 30th, 1745, while on a few months leave, Thomas came home to find his town under the control of Charles Edward Stuart and the Jacobites. Sadly, he was told by a military officer that his father's naval unit had been murdered by a group of Jacobites at their naval post two days earlier. Outranged by this surprise Jacobite attack, and his father's death McWard made the decision to fight back. He met up with the Duke of Cumberland to discuss their next motive. 
==== Battle of Falkirk Muir (1746) ====
By early January of 1746, McWard was an officer in the Royal Army. The Duke gave McWard a commission as a Lieutenant in his majesty's army and placed him under the command of Lieutenant-General Henry Hawley. On January 17th, 1746 at 2:00 in the afternoon, McWard spotted the Jacobites approaching Hawley's camp at Falkirk Muir. He joined Hawley and the troops at a bog and was ordered to lead a squadron to defend the British guns at the top of the hill. Minutes after the battle started, a storm struck and resulted in a supposedly Jacobite victory. However, heavy rain and snow caused both sides confusion of the outcome of the battle. Although defeated, the battle of Falkirk Muir gave the British an advantage. The Jacobites had a "hallowed" victory due to their poor leadership which ultimately led to their defeat at Stirling Castle two weeks later.
==== Battle of Culloden (1746) ====
On April 10th, 1746, during his leave in London, McWard received a message from Cumberland stating that the Jacobites were heading towards Culloden. Hawley and McWard began making their way through the Culwhiniac Parks intending to outflank the Jacobite's right wing. Once they had led the dragoons through the Parks, McWard deployed them in two lines beneath the Jacobite guarded re-entrant. Over the next twenty minutes, Cumberland's superior artillery battered the Jacobite lines, while Charles, moved for safety out of sight of his own forces, waiting for the government forces to move out. Inexplicably, he left his forces arrayed under government fire for 30 minutes. Within one hour, the British government crushed the Scots resulting in the end of the Jacobite Rebellion. Around 1,500-2,000 Jacobites were killed or wounded and 154 were captured resulting in a British Victory. After the battle, McWard eventually returned to his Naval Unit in France in early July.
=== Return to the War of Succession (1746-1748) ===
==== The Raid on Lorient (1746) ====
In early September of 1746, a young Lieutenant McWard, had just returned from fighting in the Jacobite Rising in Scotland. On August 29th he received a letter from Admiral Lestock congratulating him for his bravery and victory at the battle of Culloden. He asked McWard to join his forces in France and help with the Raid. He met up with the Admiral in Brittany to discuss the attack. McWard was given a command to lead a squadron into the town of Lorient under the command of General James St. Clair. During the raid of the town, St. Clair, divided his troops into two squadrons, one was to head Plomeur, Brittney and McWard was to lead the other North to the town of Quimperle. The Puomeur squadron arrived safely while McWard and his men were harassed by 300 French militiamen coming from the town of Concarneau. He acted quickly and organized a successful retreat resulting in very little casualties. Impressed by this action, the Navy board promoted him to Lieutenant-Commander of the Royal Navy and Captain of the Royal Army. 
==== Battles of Cape Finisterre (1747) ====
After the British defeat at Lorient, McWard resigned from the Army as a Captain and decided to continue warfare at sea. After a few months of leave in England, the new Lieutenant-Commander was ordered to Spain to help aid Admiral of the British Fleet, George Anson at Cape Finisterre. In early May 1747, McWard was given command of the HMS Centurion and ordered tofollow Ship of the line HMS Duke commanded by Anson and HMS Devonshire led by Admiral Peter Warren. McWard's ship was one of the first British ships of the line to engage in combat with the French Fleet. McWard successfully defeated half of the French fleet until two other British ships appeared to support him. The battle lasted around 5 hours and as a result, the French lost around 700 men and the British 520.
After the British victory at Cape Finisterre, the British fleet patrolled the Spanish waters for four more months. During this time, he assisted the fleet in collecting cargo and other military supplies from enemy depots. He also worked as Anson and Warren's official navigator of the Spanish coast.In late October of 1747, British received word that another French fleet was approaching the Cape. Admiral Edward Hawke was given command of the British fleet after Warren had fallen ill. He gave McWard the command of the sloop HMS Weazel. On October 25th, 1747 the French violently attacked the British fleet. McWard and his crew raced the Weazel toward Hawke's ship, and made a surprise attack on the French by repeatedly circling around them using explosive ammunition saving Hawke life along with the rest of the crew. In the end, the second battle of Cape Finisterre resulted in another British victory becoming "the most brilliant naval action of the war." As a result of McWards heroic military actions, Hawke promoted him to the Naval rank of Captain.
=== Post War/Member of The British Empire ===
When the War of Austrian Succession ended in 1748, McWard moved to Port Royal, Jamaica to start a new life for himself. He bought a small estate in the city with the money he inherited from his father. A week after residing in Port Royal, the British Government reinstated his bookkeeping job in the Naval imports office. One evening while working at his desk, he was approached by then Admiral of the Fleet, Maxamillion Phillip Beckett, son of Lord Cutler Beckett. Maxamillion persuaded the young Captain to join him and Johnny Goldtimbers, Lord of Newcastle and become a member British Empire. He accepted the offer.
=== Royal Black Guard/British Intelligence ===
By 1750, tensions within The British Empire had taken it's toll on McWard. He decided to retire to his estate and take a well deserved break. One rainy evening, Pulp Daggerlord and his assistant, Lord Davy Menace came to his doorstep. Puzzled, McWard invited them in. Impressed by his victories during the war, Daggerlord persuaded him to join his team as an Admiral and teacher in The Royal Black Guard's Navy. Hesitant at first, McWard accepted the position. Over the next few months of 1750, McWard continued to train Royal Black Guard troops constantly. Suspicious activity was happening right under his nose and McWard was becoming paranoid. 
In early 1751, the Duke of Newcastle, Johnny Goldtimbers approached him and warned him that Pulp was using him to his advantage. He was extremely alarmed when Goldtimbers informed him that Daggerlord was planning on starting a revolt against the Empire. Upon learning this, McWard took drastic action and began working as a spy for Goldtimbers. Finally, by the middle of 1751, it was clear that Daggerlord could not be trusted. He rejoined Goldtimbers, and helped the Empire achieve victory, bringing down Daggerlord.
=== Board of the Admiralty (1751-1754) ===
By mid 1751, the young Captain McWard had made a name for himself in The British Empire. That October, the Duke of Newcastle saw something in McWard's knowledge and ideas and promoted him to Rear-Admiral and eventually Third Naval Lord. Hesitant at first, McWard accepted the rank. He knighted by his majesty and the Royal Navy to join the Board of the Admiralty. In 1752, McWard resumed his position as Major in the Royal Marines and received the promotion of Admiral in the Royal Navy.
=== Political Career and Governorship ===
When the Black Guard revolt ended in mid 1751, Thomas lived in isolation at his estate. He felt that he had betrayed his country and hardly ever left his home. By 1752, the Empire encouraged him to accept his heroic actions and come out of the shadows. In early 1752 after his promotion to the Board of the Admiralty, McWard joined British Parliament and was given a Constituency in his hometown of Manchester by order of his majesty and the Prime Minister. In 1754, he was then reloacted to the Constituency of Ayrshire, Scotland. By 1755, he was moved to Norwich, 100 miles north-east of London. 
During the start of his first term, Britain was in heated conflict with Sweden. Having traveled there recently to meet with the Swedish Prime Minister, McWard decided to draft a Peace Treaty to try and end political and military turmoil between the two nations. Sadly, the bill was rejected due to the lack of votes, but McWard still remains in Parliament as a member of the Whig Party and has come a long way in helping Britain through difficult times. He took part in participating in Acts such as the Calendar New Style Act which regulated the commencement of the years and corrected the British Calendar that is currently in use as well as the issues of Piracy in the Caribbean and the American Colonies. In November of 1752, he was elected Governor of Port Royal succeeding Lord Joseph Grey.
=== Preventing a Second Rebellion? ===
In early 1753, Pulp Daggerlord had plans bubbling underground. McWard, along with his fellow comrades received a threatening declaration of war from Daggerlord. Wanting no part of it, McWard met Daggerlord in the port of Tortuga. McWard firmly declared that he as well as the Empire wanted no part of warfare between Daggerlord. The conversation became more intense. Daggerlord declared to McWard stating "You should have never left my side. To this day I don't understand why...the empire, your words will no longer carry weight. It's all a matter of time...." McWard responded with a chuckle, grabbed Daggerlord by the collar and said: "You will never scare me... It's over for you. You will always be at the bottom. Stay away from my comrades....." With a silent laugh, he gently released Daggerlord and walked away, never to see him again.
=== The demise of Pulp Daggerlord/ Commander of the fleet ===
In late March of 1753, rumors starting going around that Daggerlord had been researching private information on members of the British government. On the evening of March 26th, 1753, Pulp Daggerlord was executed by the British government on the charges of doxxing and other malicious activies. Upon hearing the news, McWard was stunned and relieved. The man who had been threatening him and his country had finally been terminated. After his execution, commander Lord Davy Menace took over the Royal Black Guard and organized a truce between the Empire and the Royal Black Guard which Britain accepted. 
By early April of 1753, McWard was stressed after discovering that The Royal Navy had enlisted in a Naval competition between several nations. Prime Minister Newcastle urged his Navy not to compete after a brutal defeat by the Naval organization Mercy. Newcastle and McWard ordered their men to eventually withdraw from the competition due to their lack of preparation. A few days later, McWard and his men decided to organize a fun tournament of their own. McWard and Admiral Tobias Squidhayes fought against each other. The man who gets seven sinks was declared the winner. As a result McWard won the match 7-6. After the match, Tobias saw something in McWard and resigned giving him the rank of Admiral of the Fleet. Hesitant on the offer, McWard eventually accepted it carrying on Squidhayes's legacy he left behind. In late June of 1753, an exhausted McWard made the decision to retire from the Navy as a Fleet Admiral to go into politics. He was given a position as Liaison of the Judicial Committee under the wing of Lord Chancellor Andrew Mallace. 
By 1755, McWard had retired from politics and was once again living a recluse at his home in Port Royal. By July of that year, McWard was summoned by his old friend Jeremiah with a letter from Lord Governor Simon Donnelly asking him to serve with the East India Trading Company. Eager to get back to work, McWard accepted the offer and took office on July 26th, 1755. By fall of that year, McWard moved to central London and by 1756 he was hired as a permanent offical of the EITC headquarters. Though a recluse once again, he still remains in contact with his old comrades. 
== Seven Years War (1756-present) ==
By 1756, McWard, EITC, and the British Government were fully aware of the heated conflict against France. The failed peace treaty between Britain and Sweden drafted by McWard back in 1752 had failed, French colonists in the Americas had been in conflict with Native tribes for nearly two years, Prussia wanted to reclaim their ownership of Silesia, and England sought to expand their territory claimed by the French in North America. In need of aid, the British Army were represented by the East India Trading Company. They were permitted to raise more troops with McWard included as their senior officer. He agreed to volunteer on the condition to serve as a Diplomat leaving old friend and Culloden comrade, Colonel James Wolfe in command. He was assigned as an escort to Wolfe on their march to Wiltshire:
"The British Army are prepared to take offense at all cost. I am however, concerned for Colonel Wolfe's health. For he is very frail and I fear he is showing horrid symptoms of consumption like his late brother before him. None the less, Wolfe is prepared for the worst to come. For now we wait for our orders as we stay encamped in Wiltshire. We will keep you informed. I can assure you Wolfe is in good hands. Be well my Lords. "
- McWard to the East India Trading Company
In January of 1756, Britain signed The Treaty of Westminster as a chance to mend their relationship with Prussia. It was McWard's duty as an escort to continue to hold this alliance without fail. In August 1756, he marched onward to Cornwall with Wolfe's regiment and sailed to Prussia to assist the Siege of Pirna in Germany. By the start of September 4th, they were ready for battle. Following the Dresden occupation by their ally Frederick the Great, the Saxon Army had moved south and took position of the fortress of Pirna. Finally on the 10th of September, the allied forces made their attack on the Saxons. 18,000 enemy troops surrendered and 5,000 were killed and wounded. By the spring, Wolfe health was starting to decline He was training his troops very diligently at Wiltshire causing a mental strain on him. McWard didn't resent him because he had been in Wolfe's position. He volunteered to rotate command with Wolfe during the training. Eventually, McWard, Wolfe, and the regiment returned to London exhausted, but eager to fight their next conflict. 
=== Return to Spain and court-martial of John Byng ===
By the spring of 1756, McWard was asked to leave Wolfe temporarily to improve his health. Instead, Parliament and the Admiralty requested him to act as a liaison to the British Mediterranean Fleet in Spain under the command of Admiral John Byng. McWard accepted and arrived in Minorca, Spain in early March while the Admiralty organized the fleet. Spain had been under British control since 1708, during the War of Spanish Succession. It was McWard's duty as a diplomat and liaison to maintain the status quo. Upon his arrive, McWard and his team had reported that Minorca had been undermined by the French:
"I have disturbing reports to confirm that Spain is currently undermined by the enemy. I urge you to reconsider downsizing the Royal Navy. It is going to take more than three ships-of-the-line to protect the Spanish ports from the French. " - McWard to Lord Admiral, George Anson (1756). 
McWard had shown concerns for Anson's actions as a leader for many years. Upon receiving McWard's warning, he chose instead to keep the warships close to Britain as a way to prevent a French invasion into England. To make matters worse, the Admiralty and Parliament refused to give McWard and Byng additional financial help or time to prepare the expedition properly. This ultimately led to half of the assigned ships to be mishandled and in disrepair. Upon learning this, McWard and his team headed to fort St. Philip near the port entrance of Mahon and awaited Byng's arrival. 
By April, McWard had received word that Byng and his fleet had departed from England. Unfortunately, the fleet was missing over 800 men, which caused a great concern. In dire need of aid, McWard wrote to newly appointed cabinet member and head of government William Pitt the Elder for help due to his grand vision for the future of the war. By April 17th, McWard had received word that the French fleet were close by with over 1,000 ships landing 15,000 troops under the command of General Richelieu at a nearby town in Menorca. Horrified, McWard took drastic action and led a squadron of troops with him to protect the town. Eventually, they met up with Byng and escorted him to Gibraltar to meet with General Thomas Fowke for Marine aid. Their request surprisingly was rejected as ordered by the War Office. McWard was appalled for he had never heard of such irresponsible actions enacted by the War Department in such a dire situation. McWard helped Byng draft a letter to the War Office explaining their dilemma. With no response, and no marines to land with only fusiliers to lend the garrison, the pair had no choice but to go ahead and face the enemy with what they had. They returned to Fort St. Phillip to set up camp and plan the attack. Byng requested McWard to take charge of the troops at the fort, while he leads the fleet to Port Mahon leaving open communication. McWard agreed and gave the Admiral his best wishes. Due to a majority of the island being overrun by the French, McWard's orders were to blow up the bridge at the fort's main entrance in order to prevent the enemy from attacking. While Byng approached the enemy in a parallel line, by the time they reached the front of the French fleet, his signaling orders were delayed leading his main Vanguard to be severely damaged and half the British fleet gone. With no hope in site, McWard and his forces blew up the bridge, killing 38 enemy troops and wounding 184. McWard returned to his Spanish residence filled with guilt, helplessness, and betrayal. He felt the Royal Navy had failed Admiral Byng. With the accompaniment of a Spanish diplomat, McWard returned to England with dispatches and a full report of what he witnessed at the battle: 
"What an unfortunate day for all of us. The Royal Navy has failed us with various resources leaving poor Admiral Byng to think for himself. Victory could have been ours if the War Office had acted sooner. I feel nothing but pity for Byng. What a courageous man." - McWard to the War Office (1756). 
Byng had a report to share, but it never made it to the War Department in time. He was arrested and tried by court-martial for breech of the Articles of War, with McWard in attendance from afar. Byng's failure to relieve the garrison caused outrage among his fellow officers. McWard did his best to convince the court that Byng was innocent and that the failure the battle played was on the War Office's part, not Byng. Although the court agreed with McWard, they believed Byng also was at fault due to his tactics made in conflict causing the lives of half the British forces and ships. As a result, Byng pleaded guilty on his part and was sent to prison for his actions awaiting what will occur with his fate..... 
== Ships/Vessels ==
HMS Lynx (1744-45)
HMS Weazel (1747-48) 
HMS Black Vindicator (1751-present)
HMS Blue Viking (1751-present) 
HMS Storm Defender (1751-present)
=== Comrades ===
* Lt. Colonel Christopher Gunhound: Current commander of the Royal Marines.
*johnny Goldtimbers: Prime Minister of Great Britain and mentor of McWard.
*Andrew Mallace: Lord Chancellor of British Parliament and mentor of McWard.
*Jeremiah Sharkbones: Naval officer and close friend of Mcward
* Christopher Jameson (CJ): Retired Lt. Colonel of the Royal Marines and close friend of McWard.
*Samuel Hornigold: Retired Naval officer and close friend of McWard.
*Lord Andrew Beckett: Current Senior Sea Lord of the Admiralty, relative of Lord Cutler Beckett, and comrade of McWard's.
* Luis Sailwalker: Retired Major of the Royal Marines and comrade of McWard's.
* Tobias Squidhayes: Retired First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, Privy Council member, and comrade of McWard's.
== Legislations ==
* NATIONAL DAY ACT (1754): To establish and recognize a celebration of the Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland’s National Day as the date of the founding of the The British Empire on the fourteenth of December in the year of the Lord, seventeen forty-nine. (Passed)
* CALENDAR NEW STYLE ACT (1751): Regulates the commencement of the year; and for correcting the calendar currently in use. (Passed)
* RULE OF 1756: A policy passed by Britain and the United Kingdom, ruling that England would not trade with neutral nations who trade with the enemy. (Passed)