ANSON, George, Lord (1697-1762). Admial; circumnaviated the globe1740-44.
Autograph Letter Signed ("Anson") to an unnamed correspondent, inforning him of his own appointment as First Lord of the Admiralty, and of his corresponent's appointment as one of the Admiralty Commissioners.
2 pages 4to with integral blank leaf, T
"I have just received a letter from Lord Holdernesse [the Secretary of State] to signifie his Majesty's [Geroge II's] pleasure, that I should attend him to morow at the usual hour of his Levée, to have the honour of kissing his hand, on being appointed first Commissioner of the Admiralty; and it being his Majesty's further pleasure to join you in this Commission, his Lordship had directed me to give you notice of it, and to desire your attendance at Kensington at the same time to kiss the Kings hand."
Anson's circumnavigation of the globe was a feat of great heroism and brought him justified renown. When he sold his prize capture, a rich Spanish treasure galleon, in Canton in 1743, his own ship, the Centurion, became the first British warship to enter Chinese waters. He was a distinguished First Lord of the Admiralty, and it was said of him that no one else so successfully combined the role of political and professional head of the Navy. His reorganization of the fleet played a large part in the naval victories of the Seven Years War.
From the Webster collection, with the collection's unobtrusive small round stamp at the top of the first page, far from the text.
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