Henry Mordaunt (Royal Navy officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Mordaunt
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| Died | 24 February 1710 Bath, Somerset |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/ |
Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1695–1710 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands held | HMS Resolution |
| Battles/wars | War of the Spanish Succession |
| Relations | Charles Mordaunt, 3rd Earl of Peterborough (father) |
Henry Mordaunt (born around 1682, died 1710) was a brave officer in the Royal Navy, which is Britain's navy. He also served as a politician in the British Parliament. During a big war called the War of the Spanish Succession, he commanded a large warship. He showed amazing courage when his ship was attacked by many more French ships, making sure it didn't fall into enemy hands.
Contents
Henry Mordaunt was born around 1682. He was the youngest son of Charles Mordaunt, who was the 3rd Earl of Peterborough. His mother was Carey Fraser.
When he was young, around 1691, Henry worked in the Queen's household. This job lasted until 1694. In 1695, he officially joined the Royal Navy as a lieutenant. This was his first step in becoming a naval officer.
A Heroic Battle at Sea
Henry Mordaunt was promoted to commander in April 1703. He also became a politician, serving as a member for Malmesbury in 1705. He was part of the Whig political group. Even though he was often away at sea, he supported the government's plans.
In 1706, he became a captain. He was given command of a powerful warship called HMS Resolution. This ship had 70 guns and was known as a "ship of the line." At this time, Britain was fighting France in the War of the Spanish Succession.
On March 19, 1707, Captain Mordaunt was leading a small group of ships off the coast of Italy. Their mission was to protect his father, who was traveling from Spain. Suddenly, the Resolution met six French warships. These French ships were much bigger and had more guns, ranging from 58 to 80 guns each.
A long and fierce battle began. The Resolution was badly damaged by the French cannons. Captain Mordaunt knew his ship might be captured. To prevent this, he bravely ordered his crew to run the ship aground, meaning to steer it onto the shore. After the ship was stuck, he ordered it to be set on fire. This made sure the French could not take it.
The French ships kept firing at the burning wreck. As Captain Mordaunt left his ship, a cannonball hit him in the thigh. He was badly wounded. His father safely reached his destination and helped Henry get a pass to travel home through France. Henry survived his injury, but he could no longer walk. This meant he had to retire from the Navy.
Life After Injury and Final Years
Henry Mordaunt returned to England in late 1707. He settled in the town of Bath. He was re-elected as a Member of Parliament for Malmesbury in 1708.
In November 1709, he had to attend a special hearing called a court martial. This was to explain why his ship was lost. However, he was found innocent of any wrongdoing. The court declared that he had shown great courage during the battle.
Henry wanted to go back to sea, but he became sick with smallpox. He died unmarried from smallpox in Bath on February 24, 1710. He was buried in his family's vault in Turvey, Bedfordshire.
