Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/631

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WARREN. 627 and with it destroyed the largest and only remaining privateer belonging to St. Jago de Cuba. In 1742, being appointed to the Launceston of forty guns, he took, among the Canary isles, a very rich French ship from Vera Cruz, with a large quantity of money on board. He afterwards commanded a squadron in the West Indies; and having taken a station off Martinique, he captured, between the 12th of February and the 24th of June, 1744, twenty-four prizes of great value, among which was a register ship, estimated at 250,000l. His great abilities were placed in a more conspicuous light by the taking of Louisburgh, in 1745, after a siege of forty-seven days, in which service he co-operated with General Pepperel. The news of this success was received in England with every testimony of rejoicing, and the gallant commodore was immediately appointed rear-admi ral of the blue, and in the following year, rear-admiral of the white. In the beginning of 1747, he was sent out second in command of the Channel fleet, under Admiral Anson, when they fell in with and captured six French men of war, and four East Indiamen. His gallantry on this occasion was rewarded with the order of the Bath. He was next ordered to cruise off Cape Finisterre, where he made several valuable prizes; and on his return to England, was created vice-admiral of the white. In September 1747, he again sailed from Spithead on a cruise, but was compelled, by a severe illness, to resign his command, and retire to his country seat in Hampshire. In April 1748, he was sent with a strong English and Dutch squadron to cruise to the westward; but the peace put an end to his professional exertions, which were rewarded on the 12th of May, with his last naval promotion—that of rear-admiral of the red. At the general election in 1747, he had been returned to Parliament for the city of Westminster; but his popu larity placed him in an embarrassing situation, on the death of the Lord Mayor, in 1752. He had previously received the freedom of the city in a gold box; but the citizens of