The New Student's Reference Work/Vernon, Edward

Ver′non, Edward, an English admiral, was born at London, Nov. 12, 1684. He was at the taking of Gibraltar in 1704, and was made a rear-admiral when only 24. While a member of Parliament, he declared that Porto Bello could be taken with only six ships of war, and when put in command of six vessels and sent to the West Indies, he took the city in one day, with the loss of only seven men. The English people were wild over the victory; Vernon's birthday was celebrated in London with public illuminations; and 130 medals were struck in his honor. With a larger fleet he attacked Cartagena, but failed to take it. In the invasion of the Pretender, Vernon's fleet had command of the coasts of Kent and Sussex. On account of a quarrel with the officers of the admiralty, his name was struck from the list of English admirals. George Washington's older brother, Lawrence, was with Vernon on his expedition against Cartagena, and afterwards in his honor named the Washington home on the Potomac Mt. Vernon. Admiral Vernon died in Suffolk, Oct. 29, 1757.