George Anson

The Great Naval Administator

This Naval History is a continuation on from: "Continental Wars"

The complete absense of any notion of "standard" persisted in the ships of the Royal Navy for a long time.

It was not until that great naval administrator, Admiral George Anson, had been installed at the Admiralty during the middle years of the eighteenth-century that the chaos, even as regards the "rating" of ships, was reduced to some order.

Before this time, ships of very different sizes, varying in gun-numbers from over one hundred to as few as fifty, were allowed to take their place in the "line of battle."

Continental Wars

This Was Highly Dangerous

It is notorious that the strength of any chain is that of its weakest link: and this is particularly true of a battle-fleet sailing in line. It is supposed to have all the advantages of a chain, flexibility and its series securely joined of strong links.

Every Admiral knew this; including the enemy Admiral, who was always on the look-out for a chink in the armour or where possible the weakest link. Anson went some way towards strengthening the whole line by seeing that the weak links were cut out altogether.

He divided all fighting ships into two big groups; the first were "Battleships," the second "Cruisers." Then he sub-divided each group into three; "First Rates," "Second ERates" and "Third Rates."

A Political Admiral or Admiral Politician

There were Political Admirals all through the eighteenth-century, also through the century there were Admiral Politicians. They are not quite the same thing, and the difference is of emphasis.

A Political Admiral here means, a man mainly concerned with politics; and politically joins the Naval Service for the chance to rise high. An Admiral Politician, denotes a naval officer, who dabbles in politics. Anson was one of the latter.

Admiral George Anson First Lord of the Admiralty

In the late seventeenth-century there was much corruption and the favouring of relatives for the Navy Board and places in the Admiralty together, our fortunes dwindled because of these inept figures, to the lowest point of our naval fortunes.

Their was no really competent figure on either Board. But better things were in sight.

In 1744, Captain George Anson took his seat on the Board of Admiralty as Naval Adviser to the Duke of Bedford; and in 1751 he became First Lord himself, holding the post for ten years.

In his first period he revealed himself as an outstanding figure, in both Direction and Administration. In the former sphere he infused much intelligence into the inept conduct of operations, that he undoubtedly saved us in the War of the Austrian Succession.

In the latter field he inaugurated so many improvements, which were long overdue, that he must be counted as the greatest naval administrator since Pepys retired.

He sorted out the matter of Retirement; his improved ideas in the design and build of ships; especially their classification. He introduced uniforms for officers of Relative rank; and his setting of the Marines upon their modern footing.

To these may be added his remarkable talent for selecting the right men for advancement, his work for naval discipline, and his efforts to free naval tactics from traditional methods.

In his later period, which included the greater part of the Seven Years' War, he was overshadowed in direction by the brilliance of Pitt ans Elder, but as Administrator he continued to produce the materials for victory to the last.

The Chase

Edward Vernon was a difficult man, one who did not suffer fools gladly. He had many enemies, and failed in the end to rise to the very top; to the position from which he could enforce his brilliant ideas upon the Service as a whole.

So his orders, his signals and his Additional Instructions remained local, and personal to himself and the squadron which he commanded.

But His Work Was Not Wasted

For it was taken up by one who, was as able as himself, and could and did reach the top. This was George, Lord Anson, someone of whose administrative services have already been noticed.

Anson In fact performed two separate kinds of service to naval tactics. He adopted, and as First Lord, gave official standing to, the best of Vernon's additions, and he added several excellent ones of his own.

No full text of his Additional Instructions survive today, but there can be little doubt that they contained, those of Vernon's, just mentioned and several of his own for sailing in open order, and upon a line of bearing.

"All ships steering for the same compass point, but neither in line ahead nor in line abreast. Byng's intended line at the battle of Minorca was a form of Line of Bearing."

Anson saw the importance of exercising his squadron in tactics, and his own inventions, just noted, date from his famous cruise of 1747, when he won his decisive success off Finisterre.

Cape Finisterre 3rd May 1747

This enlightened officer not only rendered a great service to naval tactics in general by inventing codifying and authoring official "additions."

He was not always behind the scenes. Once he was in the forefront of battle, and won a brilliant and decisive action. And he won it by discarding "Line" tactics and relying upon "General Chase."

It happened off Cape Finisterre on May 3rd 1747. Anson with his fleet in his new "open order" formation for cruising. came into contact with a big French convoy escorted by a fleet of French warships, almost all of small force, under de la Jonquiere.

His own predominance of strength was great; he had fourteen ships of the line, and ship for ship, they were a good deal more powerful than the enemy's nine. But Anson was by no means reckless.

He hoisted General Chase for a swift approach, but whe he saw that de la Jonquiere was lying to and awaiting him, he ordered the Line of Battle Ahead.

Admiral Peter warren, his loyal and skillful second-in-command, seems to have wanted to cut out this interlude. But Anson preferred to collect his force together for one mighty blow.

It is not possible to say who was most in the right here. All that can be stated without fear of contradiction is that Anson cannot have been far wrong.

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As The Sequel will Show

Having formed his line, he steered for the enemy's center, where upon the French admiral turned, and was soon "on the run." In recording this we do not imply or express severe disapproval whatever uopn him.

For his job was to cover his convoy, for as long as was possible. There was no point in attempting more. So much he had tried; and in all the unequal fighting he and all his ships behaved most gallantly.

Now Anson hesitated no longer. Again he ordered the General Chase, and his fleet fell upon the enemy. The manoeuvre was now no longer in a confused rush; there was order in it.

Each attacking ship at the head was instructed to attack the nearest enemy ship it could reach, and disable it if possible, before moving on to attack the next. Leaving the crippled ship to be dealt with by other British ships coming up in support.

Then moving forward itself to attack enemy ships ahead. Whether Anson had given instructions to this effect is not known. It is permissible to suggest that some such orders formed the content of Norris's original "chase" instructions.

This action, like all true "chase" battles, was somewhat confused in detail. But there is nothing confusing about the result, which was as trim and well-rounded as anyone could desire.

Every ship which had formed the French line was captured.

The continuation of this Naval History will Be: "Slave Triangle"

George Anson Slave Triangle

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