Rodney, Admiral George Brydges (1719-1792)

George Brydges Rodney, British admiral and statesman, was born in 1719 at Walton-onThames, son of Henry Rodney, an ex-captain who had served under the earl of Peterborough during the War of the Spanish Succession. Briefly attending Harrow, Rodney volunteered for naval service (1732) on board HMS Sunderland, stationed in the Mediterranean. He rose rapidly, with promotions to lieutenant (1739) and postcaptain of the sixty gun frigate HMS Plymouth in 1742. After serving in home waters, he obtained command of the battleship HMS Eagle (1744). He distinguished himself during the Austrian Succession War, taking part in Admiral Edward Hawke's successful operation against the French fleet off Ushant (1747) as a result of which he was cited for exceptional bravery.