Home > George Pocock
Sir George Pocock ( March 6, 1706 - April 3, 1792), British admiral, son of Thomas Pocock, chaplain in the navy, entered the navy under the protection of his maternal uncle, Captain Streynsham Master (1682-1724), in the Superbe in 1718.He became lieutenant in April 1725, commander in 1733, and post-captain in 1738. After serving in the West Indies he was sent to the East Indies in 1754 as captain of the Cumberland (58) with Rear-Admiral Charles Watson (1714-1757). Watson's squadron co-operated with Clive in the conquest of Bengal. In 1755 Pocock became rear-admiral, and was promoted vice-admiral in 1756.
1 Command of British Naval Forces in Indian Waters
On the death of Watson he took the command of the naval forces in the eastern seas. In 1758 he was joined by Commodore Charles Steevens (d. 1761), but the reinforcement only raised the squadron to seven small line-of-battle ships. War being now in progress between France and England the French sent a naval force from their islands in the Indian Ocean into the Bay of Bengal to the assistance of Pondicherry. To intercept the arrival of these reinforcements for the enemy now became the object of Pocock. The French force was indeed of less intrinsic strength than his own. Count D'Aché (1700?-1775), who commanded, had to make up his line by including several Indiamen, which were only armed merchant ships. Yet the number of the French was superior and Pocock was required by the practice of his time to fight by the old official fighting instructions. He had to bring his ships into action in a line with the enemy, and to preserve his formation while the engagement lasted.
All Pocock's encounters with D'Aché were indecisive. The first battle, on April 29 1758, failed to prevent the Frenchmen from reaching Pondicherry. After a second and more severe engagement on August 3August 3 is the 215th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (216th in leap years), with 150 days remaining. Events 1492 Christopher Columbus sets sail from Palos de la Frontera, Spain. 1492 The Jews were expelled from Spain by the Catholic Monarchs., the French admiral returned to MauritiusRepublic of Mauritius Republique de Maurice ( In Detail) National motto: Stella Clavisque Maris Indici( Latin: "Star and Key of the Indian Ocean" Official languages De facto: English, French and Creole Capital Port Louis President Sir Anerood Jugnauth Pri, and when the monsoonA monsoon is a periodic wind, especially in the Indian Ocean and southern Asia. The word is also used to label the season in which this wind blows southwest in India and adjacent areas that is characterized by very heavy rainfall, and specifically the rai set in Pocock went round to Bombay. He was back early in spring, but the French admiral did not return to the Bay of Bengal till September. Again Pocock was unable to prevent his opponent from reaching Pondicherry, and a well-contested battle between them on September 10September 10 is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years). There are 112 days following it. Events 1608 John Smith elected council president of Jamestown, Virginia 1776 Nathan Hale volunteers to spy 1813 The U. defeats the British Fleet at the Battl, 1759Events January 11 In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the first American life insurance company is incorporated. January 13 The Tavora family is executed following the accusation of attempted regicide on Joseph I of Portugal January 15 The British Museum opens proved again indecisive. The French government was nearly bankrupt, and D'Aché could get no stores for his squadron. He was compelled to return to the islands, and the English were left in possession of the CoromandelThe Coromandel Coast is the name given to the southeastern coast of the Indian peninsula. It is generally thought to be derived from the Tamil phrase Chola Mandal or the region mandalam of the Chola, an ancient dynasty of southern India. Historically the and Malabar coasts. Pocock went home in 1760, and in 1761 was made Knight of the Bath and admiral.
