John Leveson-Gower | |
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Admiral John Leveson-Gower (1740-1792)
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Born | 11 July 1740 |
Died | 15 August 1792 Bill Hill, Wokingham, Berkshire, England |
(aged 52)
Buried | Barkham parish church, Berkshire |
Allegiance | Great Britain |
Service/branch | Royal Navy |
Years of service | 1755–1792 |
Rank | Rear-Admiral |
Commands held |
HMS Salamander HMS Quebec HMS Africa HMS Aeolus HMS Pearl HMS Albion HMS Valiant HMS Hebe |
Battles/wars | |
Relations |
John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower (father) Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford (half-brother) |
Rear-Admiral John Leveson-Gower (11 July 1740 – 15 August 1792) was a Royal Navy officer and politician from the Leveson-Gower family. As a junior officer he saw action at the Battle of Lagos in August 1759 during the Seven Years' War. As captain of HMS Valiant he was present at the Battle of Ushant on 17 July 1778 during the American War of Independence. He went on to be a junior Lord of the Admiralty and then First Naval Lord. He also sat as Member of Parliament for several constituencies.
John was born on 11 July 1740, the second son of John, first earl Gower, by his third wife Mary Tufton, daughter of Thomas Tufton, 6th Earl of Thanet and widow of Anthony Grey, earl Harold. His half-brother, Granville Leveson-Gower, inherited his father's earldom and would use his political influence to help John's career. John was privately educated and then entered the navy, receiving his lieutenant's commission in 1758. His first command was the fireship HMS Salamander, in which he saw action at the Battle of Lagos on 18 August 1759, serving under Admiral Edward Boscawen. Leveson-Gower was advanced to the rank of post captain on 30 June 1760 and took the 32-gun HMS Quebec to the Mediterranean to serve under Sir Charles Saunders. While commanding Quebec he captured the 18-gun French privateer Phoenix in December 1760 off Cape Palos.