798:, noted that "Mathews believes that Providence lives upon beef and pudding, loves prize-fighting and bull-baiting, and drinks fog to the health of Old England." In a speech in the Commons Walpole declared "Mathews remains in the light of a hot, brave, imperious, dull, confused fellow." Mann, who was strongly opposed to how Naples' neutrality had been violated during Mathews' tenure as commander in the Mediterranean, declared "'Tis wonderful how void Admiral Mathews is of common sense, good manners, or knowledge of the world. He understands nothing but Yes or No, and knows no medium." Walpole and his correspondents often referred to Mathews as "Il Furibondo". Despite their criticism, those who knew Mathews personally, while admitting that he could be hot-tempered, described him as "warm-hearted, kindly and affectionate; a clear-sighted magistrate, a capable farmer, and a keen sportsman".
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682:. The line had still not been formed as night fell, leading Mathews to hoist the signal to come to, intending for his ships to first finish forming the line. The van and centre squadrons did so, but Lestock commanding the rear obeyed the order to come to, without having formed the line. By daybreak on 21 February, the rear of the British fleet was separated by a considerable distance from the van and centre.
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charges of having brought the fleet into action in a disorganised manner, of having fled the enemy, and of having failed to bring the enemy to action when the conditions were advantageous. In his defence, it was shown that he had fought bravely. However, in June 1747, the court judged the charges were proven and
Mathews was dismissed from the service.
743:, which had previously surrendered to the British. The Franco-Spanish fleet then resumed their flight to the southwest, and it was not until 23 February that the British were able to regroup and resume the pursuit. They caught up with the enemy fleet again, which was hampered by towing damaged ships, and were able to retake the
320:. Mathews' second in command, Lestock, was tried but acquitted, blaming the outcome on Mathews' poor planning and ill-tempered and unwise attack. Mathews was tried and convicted of the charges, and dismissed from the navy. He returned to his estates at Llandaff, before moving to London and dying there in 1751.
747:, which Mathews ordered to be burnt. By now the British had closed to within a few miles of the enemy fleet but Mathews again signalled for the fleet to come to. The following day, 24 February, the Franco-Spanish fleet was almost out of sight, and Mathews returned to Hyères, and sailed from there to
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for a public inquiry. A dozen captains were tried by court-martial and cashiered. Lestock was also tried, but was able to place the blame on
Mathews, and, with the help of powerful supporters in government, was acquitted and offered further employment. Mathews was tried by court-martial in 1746, on
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managed to defeat their opposite numbers in the enemy line, but suffered considerable damage. The French ships came about at 5 o'clock to aid the
Spanish, a manoeuvre interpreted by some of the British commanders to be an attempt to double the British line and surround them. With no orders from
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The failure of the
British fleet to bring a decisive action against an inferior foe had significant consequences. The opposing fleet was able to deliver troops and supplies to the Spanish army in Italy, swinging the war in their favour. This was widely remarked on back in Britain. The
685:
Mathews signalled for
Lestock to make more sail, reluctant to start the attack with his ships still disorganised, but the slowness of Lestock to respond caused the Franco-Spanish force to start to slip away to the south. Mathews feared that they would escape him, and pass through the
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Mathews' personality was the subject of particular study during the controversy over Toulon, with his detractors claiming that he was hot-headed, intemperate, and incapable of managing the complex task of commanding a fleet in battle, which had led to the defeat.
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Mathews had devoted himself to work at his estate at
Llandaff, and did not appear to be affected by the result of the trial. He regarded the outcome as down to factional party politics, rather than as a reflection on his conduct. Mathews moved to
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The two men continued their disagreements during their time in the
Mediterranean, though Mathews' continued distractions with diplomatic duties meant that they did not break out into an open argument. In 1742, Mathews sent a small squadron to
607:, and the other courts of Italy. The appointment was somewhat unexpected, Mathews was not especially distinguished, and had not served in the navy for a number of years. His second in command in the Mediterranean was Rear-Admiral
583:, but this was repulsed. Mathews returned to Britain in 1724 and thereafter largely retired from the navy, and received no further promotions. It was not until 1736 that he rejoined the service in any capacity, becoming
313:. Despite possessing the superior force, Mathews was unable to secure a decisive result, and the enemy were able to escape with the loss of one ship, while Mathews's fleet lost one and had several others badly damaged.
726:, followed Mathews' example. Heavily outnumbered and unsupported, with his other commanders either too uncertain, or in the case of Lestock, possibly pleased to see Mathews in difficulty and unwilling to help him,
301:, and took command of the fleet in the Mediterranean. The usual difficulties of performing delicate diplomatic duties were further exacerbated by the fact that he was on bad terms with his second in command,
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Mathews and a lack of clear instructions or command structure, the
British line broke, and began to flee to the northwest. The Spanish, still on the defensive, neglected to capture the defenceless
297:
in 1718, and went on to command squadrons in the
Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, before largely retiring from naval service. He returned to active service in 1741, following Britain's entry to the
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547:, a British national serving with the Spanish navy. However, Camocke managed to evade the British and escape in a small boat in January, and the British squadrons were occupied with blockading
658:, 10 February O.S.) the Spaniards put to sea in company with a French force. Mathews, who had now returned to his flagship, followed, and an engagement took place on 22 and 23 February.
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led to
Mathews' return to active service, with a promotion directly to vice-admiral of the red on 13 March 1741. He was given a command in the Mediterranean, and made plenipotentiary to
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was badly damaged by heavy storms during this mission, and returned to Britain for repairs. Mathews then moved ashore, and spent the next few years at the family seat of Llandaff Court.
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722:. In doing so, the signal to form the line of battle was left flying. The two signals flying simultaneously created confusion, though a number of British commanders, including Captain
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571:. The presence of his ships caused Angre's activity to be much reduced, but their strongholds remained impregnable. Mathews' squadron supported Portuguese troops from
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639:, who refused to enter into negotiations, and gave the king half an hour in which to return an answer. The Neapolitans were forced to agree to the British demands.
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810:, in 1705. The couple had a son, Thomas, who became a major in the army. Henrietta died about 1740, and Mathews remarried about 1745, to Millicent Powell.
305:, on whom he relied to manage the fleet. The pivotal moment of his naval career came in 1744, when he attempted to intercept a Franco-Spanish fleet at the
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The failure to secure a victory incensed the British public, and a series of courts-martial and a public inquiry led to several officers being
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under Commodore George Martin in 1710, and took over command of the force after Martin's return to England. He joined the fleet commanded by
619:. The two had not been on good terms, and on receiving the Mediterranean posting, Mathews requested that Lestock be recalled, a request the
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The fleets had become scattered in the light winds as they approached, and as they began to form up for the
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The outbreak of war with Spain and the imminent threat of war with France during the early stages of the
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From 1722 to 1724 he was in command of a small squadron sent to the East Indies to expel the Indian
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Knowing that his duty was to attack, Mathews hoisted the signal to engage the enemy aboard his
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Mathews joined the navy in 1690 and saw service on a number of ships, including during the
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in early 1709. The British gave chase, re-capturing one of Duguay-Trouin's prizes,
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In June 1742, a squadron of Spanish galleys, which had taken refuge in the Bay of
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Mathews returned to active service in January 1718, following the outbreak of
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1069:. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 887–888.
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in 1718, and was then detached in command of a squadron assigned to blockade
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266:(October 1676 – 2 October 1751) was a British officer of the
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under Captain James Littleton in 1697, and on 31 October 1699 Vice-Admiral
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401:. Mathews served with Aylmer in the Mediterranean, before being moved to
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For the American Revolutionary War general and Virginia politician, see
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
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Edward Mathews (died 1700), and grandson on his mother's side of
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British military personnel of the War of the Quadruple Alliance
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until autumn 1720, when Mathews returned to Britain with Byng.
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905:"As NDA cadet, I was witness to Vice Admiral Awati's kindness"
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dockyard, though the appointment was considered a civil one.
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in 1749 and died there on 2 October 1751. He was buried at
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on 22 February, Mathews signalled for the formation of the
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were then assigned to the fleet sent to reduce and capture
344:(1624–1684) (who was executed in 1684, for his part in the
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Royal Navy personnel of the War of the Austrian Succession
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460:. The fleet encountered a small French squadron under
348:). Mathews was also a descendant of the Welsh knight
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in summer 1711, after which he escorted a convoy to
535:fleet in the Mediterranean. He participated in the
356:. Mathews joined the navy in 1690, serving aboard
1165:English military personnel of the Nine Years' War
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363:, which was then under the command of his uncle,
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456:, which was attached to the Channel fleet under
442:from 1704, and in October 1708 took command of
1175:Royal Navy officers who were court-martialled
289:. He distinguished himself with service with
16:British officer of the Royal Navy (1676–1751)
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650:, and was watched by the British fleet from
527:, was being fitted out. He took command of
513:, with a temporary appointment to command
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1093:. Vol. 37. Oxford University Press.
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1081:. Vol. 37. Oxford University Press.
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1091:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
1089:(1894). "Martin, William (1696–1756)".
1079:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
1077:(1894). "Mathews, Thomas (1676–1751)".
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73:2 October 1751 (aged 74–75)
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888:"Mathews, Thomas (1676–1751)".
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597:War of the Austrian Succession
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794:, in his correspondence with
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235:War of the Quadruple Alliance
230:War of the Spanish Succession
945:. Vol. 37. p. 300.
367:. Mathews served during the
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1023:. Vol. 37. p. 46.
989:. Vol. 37. p. 45.
892:. Vol. 37. p. 44.
844:. Vol. 37. p. 43.
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623:declined to act upon.
537:Battle of Cape Passaro
295:Battle of Cape Passaro
240:Battle of Cape Passaro
755:Inquiry and dismissal
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324:Family and early life
145:Years of service
601:Charles Emmanuel III
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342:Sir Thomas Armstrong
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688:Strait of Gibraltar
350:Sir David ap Mathew
1127:Sir William Rowley
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462:René Duguay-Trouin
377:Battle of Barfleur
365:Sir Francis Wheler
354:Louis VI of France
223:Battle of Barfleur
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732:Marlborough
719:Marlborough
613:guard ships
484:Nova Scotia
414:West Indies
1139:Categories
1032:References
914:7 November
749:Port Mahon
631:to compel
603:, king of
446:Gloucester
268:Royal Navy
183:Gloucester
139:Royal Navy
127:Royal Navy
83:Allegiance
1055:(1911). "
706:HMS
621:Admiralty
577:Vijaydurg
522:HMS
466:HMS
451:HMS
444:HMS
433:HMS
418:HMS
403:HMS
396:HMS
381:HMS
360:Albemarle
358:HMS
352:and King
318:cashiered
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188:HMS
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174:HMS
167:HMS
148:1690–1747
703:flagship
694:for the
605:Sardinia
435:Kingsale
420:Yarmouth
392:flagship
383:Portland
334:Llandaff
287:Llandaff
281:and the
176:Kingsale
169:Yarmouth
163:Commands
113:Service/
78:, London
64:Llandaff
1063:(ed.).
1050::
808:Antigua
715:aboard
567:of the
562:Admiral
556:Maratha
541:Messina
504:Chester
480:Chester
468:Bristol
453:Chester
438:in the
427:Command
412:in the
338:Colonel
293:at the
272:admiral
190:Chester
157:Admiral
1059:". In
1044:
652:Hyères
648:Toulon
629:Naples
617:Medway
581:Kolaba
579:&
549:Sicily
496:Boston
473:Gloire
136:
124:
115:branch
104:
92:
814:Notes
745:Poder
741:Poder
728:Namur
708:Namur
692:Brest
398:Boyne
916:2018
730:and
717:HMS
656:N.S.
559:Koli
529:Kent
524:Kent
515:HMS
490:Sir
204:Kent
195:HMS
153:Rank
70:Died
54:Born
573:Goa
494:at
1141::
995:^
951:^
907:.
850:^
822:^
781:.
698:.
502:.
475:.
394:,
332:,
274:.
62:,
918:.
48:.
23:.
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