Edward Peyton
Encyclopedia
Edward Peyton was an officer of the Royal Navy
. He served during the War of the Austrian Succession
and took part in an inconclusive battle off Bengal.
Peyton entered the navy in 1707. From 1744 to 1746 he was captain of HMS Medway. In 1746, he was appointed a commodore
in succession of Curtis Barnett and was was commanding a squadron of seven ships of the line off Bengal. The French commander Mahé de la Bourdonnais
had been sent to the East Indes in response to attacks by Peyton's predecessor. Peyton sighted Bourdonnais and his French fleet off Negapatnam on 25 June 1746 and attacked. The clash was inconclusive as the British fleet held back too far to do sufficient damage. The British lost 14 killed and 46 wounded and the French lost 27 killed and 53 wounded. After the action Peyton held a council of war with his captains, and decided to break off the action and return to Tricomalee for repairs. By withdrawing, Peyton left Bourdonnais unopposed on the Coromandel Coast
where he went on to attack Madras.
Peyton, was censured by the East India Company and arrested by his successor Thomas Griffin. He was recalled to England but no charges were filed. He died in 1749, a broken man.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. He served during the War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
and took part in an inconclusive battle off Bengal.
Peyton entered the navy in 1707. From 1744 to 1746 he was captain of HMS Medway. In 1746, he was appointed a commodore
Commodore (Royal Navy)
Commodore is a rank of the Royal Navy above Captain and below Rear Admiral. It has a NATO ranking code of OF-6. The rank is equivalent to Brigadier in the British Army and Royal Marines and to Air Commodore in the Royal Air Force.-Insignia:...
in succession of Curtis Barnett and was was commanding a squadron of seven ships of the line off Bengal. The French commander Mahé de la Bourdonnais
Bertrand-François Mahé de La Bourdonnais
Bertrand-François Mahé de La Bourdonnais was a French naval officer and administrator, in the service of the French East India Company.-Biography:...
had been sent to the East Indes in response to attacks by Peyton's predecessor. Peyton sighted Bourdonnais and his French fleet off Negapatnam on 25 June 1746 and attacked. The clash was inconclusive as the British fleet held back too far to do sufficient damage. The British lost 14 killed and 46 wounded and the French lost 27 killed and 53 wounded. After the action Peyton held a council of war with his captains, and decided to break off the action and return to Tricomalee for repairs. By withdrawing, Peyton left Bourdonnais unopposed on the Coromandel Coast
Coromandel Coast
The Coromandel Coast is the name given to the southeastern coast of the Indian Subcontinent between Cape Comorin and False Divi Point...
where he went on to attack Madras.
Peyton, was censured by the East India Company and arrested by his successor Thomas Griffin. He was recalled to England but no charges were filed. He died in 1749, a broken man.