Career
He saw service during the War of the Austrian Succession. Born into a politically well-connected family, Thomas Grenville rose quickly through the naval ranks to his first commands during the War of the Austrian Succession. A fortunate encounter while in his first command brought him a valuable prize, while political influence ensured he received prime postings.
He was to have gone on an independent cruise early in 1747, but the requirements of the service meant that he was instead attached to the fleet in the Atlantic under George Anson.
Anson came across a French fleet under the Marquis de la Jonquière, off Cape Finisterre and attacked them in the Battle of Cape Finisterre. His body was returned to England for burial, and a memorial was raised to his memory by his relative, at Stowe House.
Thomas Grenville was born on 4 April 1719, the seventh son of the politician Richard Grenville. George served as Prime Minister between 1763 and 1765.
Thomas Grenville entered the Royal Navy, and had risen to the rank of lieutenant by 1740, and captain by 1742.
He was given command of the 50-gun HMS Romney on 6 April 1742, and while sailing off Cape Saint Vincent in March 1743, he captured a Spanish ship sailing from Veracruz to Cadiz with an extremely valuable cargo, valued at £120,000 or £130,000. He was then appointed to the 50-gun HMS Falkland and served off the coast of Ireland. Grenville was moved to the 60-gun HMS Defiance in 1746, and was elected as Member of Parliament for the naval town of Bridport on 12 December 1746.
The change in orders caused annoyance, though Anson wrote to George Grenville to promise that he would detach Thomas as soon as he was able.
On 3 May, Anson came across a French squadron, under the command of the Marquis de la Jonquière, off Cape Finisterre and attacked them. He had been hit by a large splinter two hours into the engagement, which smashed his left thigh.
The leg was at once amputated, but Grenville succumbed to his wounds five hours later. His body was returned to England, where George Lyttelton wrote that the joy of the victory "is palled to our family by the loss of poor Captain Grenville, one of the most promising young men in the navy, and who, had he lived, would have been an honour not to his family only, but to his country." Thomas Grenville was buried at the family seat in Wotton Underwood.