Edward Leveson-Gower

Rear-Admiral Edward Leveson-Gower (8 May 1776 – 6 December 1853) was a British naval officer, the son of Admiral The Hon. John Leveson-Gower and Frances Boscawen. Naval and political career Leveson-Gower entered the Navy in 1791, and was promoted to lieutenant on 19 March 1793. He took command of the sixth-rate prize frigate , when he was made post-captain on 1 June 1795, commanding her only until 6 February 1796. He commanded the frigate from December 1798, until appointed to in January 1801. In her he took part in the capture of on 3 August 1801, and the destruction of Bravoure and the recapture of on 2 September 1801, before she struck a rock off St Aubin's Bay and sank on 23 September 1801. Leveson-Gower was returned as the Member of Parliament for Truro through the influence of his uncle Viscount Falmouth in July 1802. He was given command of the frigate upon her launch in September 1803. While attached to the Channel Fleet, Shannon was lost on 10 December 1803 when she ran aground in a gale off Barfleur. Leveson-Gower was captured and spent over three years as a prisoner of war before returning to England, where he was honourably acquitted by a court martial for the loss of his ship.