BOSCAWEN, Edward, British admiral, born in Cornwall, England, 19 August 1711; died near Guild-ford, 10 January 1761. He was the third son of Hugh Boscawen, first Lord Falmouth, his mother being daughter of a sister of Marlborough. He entered the navy 3 April 1726, became a lieutenant on 25 May 1732, and was promoted to the rank of captain 12 March 1737. Having specially distinguished himself at Portobello and Carthagena, he was promoted, in 1744, to the "Dreadnought," sixty guns, in which he took the " Medee" in the channel, 28 April 1744. He signalized himself under Arisen, at the battle off Cape Finisterre in 1747, where he was severely wounded, and, being made a rear-admiral, was dispatched, in 1748, with a squadron to the East Indies. He failed in an attempt upon Pondicherry, but took Madras, and, on his return to England, became a member of the admiralty board in 1751. lie sailed for North America in 1755, and in an action with a French squadron captured two ships of the line. In 1756 he became vice-admiral of the blue, and in 1758, in conjunction with General Amherst, who commanded the land forces, reduced Louisburg and Cape Breton. In 1759, having charge of the Mediterranean fleet, he pursued the Toulon fleet under De la Clue through the straits of Gibraltar, and, overtaking it in Lagos bay, defeated it, taking three ships and burning two. He received the thanks of parliament, a pension of £3,000 a year, and the rank of general of marines. On his return to Spithead with 2,000 prisoners and his prizes, he received the freedom of the Scottish capital, and had many other marks of public regard conferred upon him. lie was elected to parliament in 1741 for Truro, and served in that capacity until 1761. Lord Chatham said of him:" When I apply to other, officers respecting any expedition I may chance to project, they always raise difficulties; Boscawen always finds expedients."