Vernon , Edward , 1684-1757 , Admiral

Vernon, popularly referred to as 'Old Grog', became a lieutenant in 1702, a captain in 1706 and saw service in the Mediterranean, West Indies and the Baltic. At the outbreak of war with Spain in 1739 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief, West Indies, and was successful in capturing Portobello and at the bombardment of Cartagena, although unsuccessful in attempts to land at Cartagena and at Santiago de Cuba Vernon returned to England in 1742. In 1745, at the threat of a French invasion, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief at the Downs but fell foul of the Admiralty, was superseded and later struck off the list. He was Member of Parliament for Penryn, 1722-1734, Portsmouth, 1741, and Ipswich, 1741-1757. Among the biographies is G H Hartmann The angry Admiral, the later career of Edward Vernon, Admiral of the White (London, 1953). Many of the papers have been published by B McL. Ranft The Vernon papers (Navy Records Society, 1958).