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Sir Charles Wager

Of the family from which Sir Charles Wager was descended, the rank and circumstances of his parents, the place and time of his birth [said to be in 1666], the education which he received, the events of his earlier years, and the period of life at which he entered into the sea service, there are no accurate and well-authenticated particulars: but, it is highly probable, that he was sprung from a family not distinguished either for antiquity or wealth, and that the rank which he afterwards attained, and the fortune he acquired, were solely the reward of his own personal merit and professional services.

Fabulists have filled in the blanks. One story claims that the New England privateer contests gave a distinguished officer of the royal navy his first opportunity. Charles Wager was said to be the nephew of John Hull, a Newport merchant. He was with his uncle in one of his vessels, when she was threatened by a French or Spanish privateer. There is a well-attested tradition that Wager, only a lad but high-mettled, pursuaded the peaceful, non-resistant owner to retire to the cabin and give him control of the vessel. He mustered the crew - they were always armed - and handled them so bravely and skilfully that the attacking party was baffled. The old Quaker's anxiety prevailed over his decorum, and coming into the companion-way he stood taking snuff and watching the fight. As he was below the level of the combatants, he could well see the effect of the firing. Again the man prevailed over the Quaker, and he cried out, "Charles, if thee means to hit that man in a red jacket, thee had better raise thy piece a little." The attack was repulsed, and neither a small trading craft or a counting-house could hold such a gallant spirit.

Another telling of the story relates that Charles summoned the crew around him. "If you will place yourselves under my command, and stand by me," said he, "I have conceived a plan by which the ship may be rescued, and we in turn become the conquerors." The sailors no doubt feeling the ardor, and inspired by the courage of their youthful leader, agreed to place themselves under his command. The Frenchman was quickly along-side, and the exhilarated conquerors, elated beyond measure with the acquisition of so fine a prize, poured into the vessel in crowds; and not foreseeing any danger, they left but few men on board their own ship. Now was the moment for Charles, who, giving his men the signal, sprang at their head on board the opposing vessel. Charles, now having the command of the French vessel, seized the helm, and placing her out of boarding distance, hailed the discomfited crowd of Frenchmen who were left on board the vessel he had just quitted, and summoned them to follow close in his wake, or he would blow them out of water (a threat they well knew he was capable of executing, as their guns were loaded during the chase). They sorrowfully acquiesced with his commands, while the gallant Charles steered into port, followed by his prize.

Through his friends, Wager obtained a post in the royal navy, ending his honorable career as Sir Charles Wager, First Lord of the Admiralty, with a monument in Westminster Abbey. One story relates that "He had the sagacity to see that the common sailor in private war had an incentive of interest which no navy gave to its men at that time. Accordingly he instituted the division of prize money, which gave every man an interest in overcoming the prizes." But this is clearly contrary to the facts, and evidently a confusion of the manner in which prize money was divided under his command in 1707.

No fact is known respecting the life of Wager until the year 1692. The first authentic and official mention of him occurs in the year 1692; on the 7th of June, in that year, he was appointed to the command of a fire-ship, which, from its name (Razee,) appears to have been formed out of a larger vessel cut down: in this fire-ship he did not long continue. From this date he continued constantly in active, but uninteresting employment: in 1695 he commanded the Woolwich, of 54 guns, in the Channel, under Sir Cloudesly Shovel, shifted his commission to a guard-ship in 1699, and in 1703 obtained the Hampton-Court, of 70 guns, and was sent to cruise along ihe coast of France, with a commodore's flag. In this rank, however, he effected nothing memorable, and can only be supposed to hare merited his subsequent promotion by a display of general talents.

The naval operations of the War of the Spanish Succession [1701-14], apart from the transport and support of the troops in Spain, were more numerous than memorable. The war of the Spanish succession affected all the nations of western, northern and central Europe in a greater or less degree, but that part of it which was fought out on the soil of Spain lay aside from the campaigns in Flanders, Germany and Italy. The purely Spanish campaigns had a close connexion with the movements of the fleets, and the two iray be conveniently taken together. The naval war was superficially somewhat wanting in interest. The overwhelming superiority of the allies alone enabled them to maintain the war in the Peninsula, but as they met no serious opposition except in 1704, there is nothing to record save their successive cruises. In 1707 a British and Dutch fleet under Sir Cloudesley Shovel aided the Imperialists in the unsuccessful siege of Toulon. The action of the allied navy was in fact as decisive as the naval strength of Great Britain was to be in the later struggle with Napoleon. But it was less brilliant. The many expeditions sent to the West Indies rarely did more than plunder coast towns or plantations in the French islands.

An exception was indeed provided by the British admiral Sir Charles Wager, who in May 1708 destroyed or captured a whole squadron of Spanish treasure ships near Cartagena in South America. The loss of the treasure was a heavy blow to the government of Philip V. and had much to do with his inability to follow up the victory of Almansa. On the whole however neither the British nor the Dutch achieved any material success against the French in America.

On the 10th of April, 1707, Wager sailed from Plymouth, at the head of nine ships of war, which were destined to escort forty-five merchantmen, and to protect our West Indian possessions from the encroachments of the French. Arrived at his station, after a prosperous voyage Wager acquired very high credit for tlie attention he paid to the interests of the colonies, and the advantages that accrued to English trade under his superintendance. As the winter approached, two formidable reports were circulated, the one, that De Grass intended to attack the Island of Jamaica, and the other that his object was solely to convoy a rich fleet of Spanish galleons, which was about to rendezvous at the Havannah. For either of these movements Wager disposed himself with happy skill. Dividing his force into two squadrons, be sent the one half to watch the advance of the enemy, and retained himself a force which he deemed sufficient to master the galleons before any succour could reach them. The undertaking was subjected to all the vicissitudes incidental to the element upon which it was formed.

In the month of January Wager set sail from Port Royal, but had the mortification to discover that his intended prizes would lie safe in the harbour of Porto Bello until May. Returning, therefore, to his station, with a hope of lulling them into a belief that he was deterred from any enterprise by the consciousness of inferior strength, he remained inactive until the middle of May, when he weighed anchor again, and had the misfortune to encounter a severe storm, in which his squadron, which consisted of only three-sail of the line, and a fire-ship, was much damaged. The predicament in which he now lay was extreme; if he returned to port he ran the risk of missing his object, and if he remained at sea, his shattered state, and the superior numbers of the enemy, rendered his success highly problematical. With the usual intrepidity of the profession, he determined upon the latter course, and carried himself through every obstacle with exemplary spirit.

The enemy, to the number of seventeen sail, were discovered at daybreak on the 28th of May, off Carthagena, and seemed indifferent to any movement which the small body of English could offer. They bore on boldly in their course, as if the superiority of their means must deter an attack ; but, finding themselves pursued, endeavoured to weather the island of Baru, and failing in the effort, formed in line, and evinced a determination to end all anxiety by a decisive engagement. Wager got alongside of their center and largest ship about sunset, and immediately began the fight. But, notwithstanding the resolution of this act, his companions, the Kingston and Portland, failed in their duty, and both kept to windward, out of their stations, though repeatedly hailed by the commodore, and challenged by his boats. Undepressed by this cowardice, Wager's ship, the Expedition, continued hotly engaged with the Spanish Admiral for an hour and a half, when the latter blew up by accident, and only eleven of the crew were saved from the wreck. About ten o'clock he came up with the rear-admiral, and firing upon him at hazard in the dark, had the fortune to lodge a broadside so effectually in his stern, that he was disabled from making any farther way. Soon after this second conquest, the Kingston and Portland came up, and after a short fight the enemy surrrounded, and the prizes, which proved highly valuable, were safely captured.

At that time, there were no regulations as to the distribution of prize-money ; but, whenever a vessel was captured, it fell a prey to a general pillage. To remedy this evil, an act of parliament was passed, in 1707, regulating the future allotment of prize-money, but this not being known to Wager or his crew, they had proceeded on the old principle in making the division. But upon receiving intelligence of the new law, Wager ordered his captain to deliver up, for fair distribution, all the silver and valuable effects he had seized for his own and the admiral's use.

Wager, shortly afterwards, received, by a vessel from England, a commission as rear-admiral of the blue; and, on the 2d of December, 1708, was made rear-admiral of the white. He remained until 1709 in the West Indies, where the ships under his command were very successful in capturing prizes. Continuing in the command of the West India station until the ensuing autumn, he let slip no opportunity a maintaining the superiority of his country upon the seas which he commanded. On his return to England, he was immediately made rear-admiral of the red; and, on the 8th of December, received the honor of knighthood.

Returned to England, he enjoyed the satisfaction of receiving the most flattering proofs of public approbation. The Queen treated him with great respect; and her ministry made him a knight, and Rear-admiral of the Red; addresses and votes of thanks poured in upon him from all quarters, and he stood established in a very high character for judgment, vigilance, and integrity. An interval of relaxation now occurred, and Wager led a private life until George I ascended the throne, when be was given command in the Mediterranean.

There remains, however, nothing more to relate of his career, but a list of honourable appointments, and frequent promotions; for, though called out on duty, he met with no opportunities for distinction. On the 16th of June, 1716, he was advanced to the flag of Vice-admiral of the Blue; on the 1st of February, 1717 he became Vice-admiral of the White; and on the 15th of May 1718, rose to be Vice-admiral of the Red. From the year 1730 he was vested with several important commissions, and upheld his popularity by steady abilities. His last voyage was made in 1731, when a French invasion was menaced, and a large fleet was reported to be collecting at Calais and Dunkirk. The fate of the nation, however, were proved to have been vainly excited, and Wager, who was gazetted Admiral of the Blue in the month of July, repaired to Cadiz, with twenty ships of the to for the purpose of seeing a treaty ratified, which was done about between the Emperor of Germany and the King through the mediation of his Britannic Majesty.

Age now in some degree disinclined Wager from employment, but he filled several civil offices with a parity and talent which greatly augmented the reputation of his professional character. In 1733 he was called upon to act as first commissioner for executing the duties of Lord High Admiral, in which place he continued until March, 1742, when increasing infirmities induced him to accept of the less fatiguing situation of Treasurer of the Navy. He died May 24, 1743, aged 77.