BOSCAWEN, EDWARD, an eminent English admiral, second son of viscount Fab b. iu 1711, and highly distinguished himself at the taking of Puerto-Bello, and at the siege of Carthag,ena in 1740. In April, 1744, he captured f the French ship Medie, with SOO prisoners. He had an important share in the victory off cape Finisterre (Mziy 3, 1747). and six months after 'received the col:imamd of the Last Indian expedi tion; he displayed high military skill in conducting the retreat from Pondicherry. lie returned iu 1750, and in the following year became n lord of the admiralty. In 1755, 11e was again afloat, and intercepted the French fleet off Newfoundland, capturing two 64-gun ships and 1500 men, including the French commander, Hoquart, whom lie had twice before taken prisoner. Next year, now admiral of the blue, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the powerful expedition against cape Breton, as the fruit of which that island and St. John's were taken after some hard fighting. B. crowned his
career by his signal victory over the French Toulon fleet, iu the bay of Lagos, Aug. IS, 1750. On his return home, he received the thanks of parliament, n pension of £3000 a year, a seat in the privy council, and the command of the marines. lu the following summer, while his fleet lay idle in the bay of Quiberon, ravaged by scurvy, B. and some of his men employed themselves in cultivating a garden on a small island, in onler to supply the sick with vegetables. He died in the following year. Lord Chatham is said to have testified that when he proposed expeditions to other commanders he heard only of difficulties, but when he applied to B., he found him ready with suggestions and expedients.