Harry Powlett, 6th Duke of Bolton

Who was Harry Powlett, 6th Duke of Bolton?

Admiral Harry Powlett, 6th Duke of Bolton PC was a British nobleman and naval officer.

He was the second son of Harry Powlett, 4th Duke of Bolton and Catherine Parry. Educated at Winchester, he joined the Royal Navy, becoming a lieutenant aboard Shrewsbury on 4 March 1740. He was promoted to captain of the Port Mahon on 15 July 1740, and was moved to Oxford in July 1741. While commanding Oxford, he took part in the Battle of Toulon, and later gave damaging evidence against Richard Lestock.

He was moved to Sandwich in March 1745, and shortly thereafter to Ruby. Ruby, with Defiance and Salisbury, was dispatched from Plymouth to the fleet off Brest on 11 April 1746. Before finding the fleet under Admiral William Martin on 22 May, he was able to capture the French frigate Embuscade. He was given command of Exeter in November 1746 and was sent to the East Indies to serve under Rear-Admiral Thomas Griffin and Admiral Edward Boscawen. He was employed by Boscawen at the Siege of Pondicherry to take soundings off Pondicherry, in order to arrange the dispositions of the naval blockade of the town.