{{Short description|Royal Navy officer (1676–1751)}} {{for|the American military officer and politician|Thomas Mathews (politician)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox military person |honorific_prefix = [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] |name=Thomas Mathews |birth_date=October 1676 |death_date= 2 October {{death year and age|1751|1676}} |image= Admiral Thomas Mathews, 1676-1751 RMG BHC2855 (cropped).tiff |caption=Portrait by [[Claude Arnulphy]], 1743 |birth_place = [[The Cathedral School, Llandaff|Llandaff Court]], [[Llandaff]] |death_place = [[Bloomsbury Square]], London |nickname= |residence = |nationality = |allegiance= [[Kingdom of England|England]] <br /> [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] |service_years=1690–1747 |rank=[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] |branch= [[Royal Navy]] |commands={{HMS|Yarmouth|1695|6}}<br>{{HMS|Kingsale|1700|6}}<br>{{HMS|Gloucester|1695|6}}<br>{{HMS|Chester|1708|6}}<br>[[HMS Expedition (1679)|HMS ''Prince Frederick'']]<br>{{HMS|Kent|1679|6}} |unit= |battles={{tree list}} *[[Nine Years' War]] **[[Battle of Barfleur]] *[[War of the Spanish Succession]] *[[War of the Quadruple Alliance]] **[[Battle of Cape Passaro]] *[[War of the Austrian Succession]] **[[Battle of Toulon (1744)|Battle of Toulon]] {{tree list/end}} |awards= |relations= }}
[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] '''Thomas Mathews''' (October 1676{{snd}}2 October 1751) was a [[Royal Navy]] officer. He joined the navy in 1690 and saw service on a number of ships, including during the [[Nine Years' War]] and the [[War of the Spanish Succession]]. He interspersed periods spent commanding ships with time at home at the family estate in [[Llandaff]]. He distinguished himself with service with [[George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington|Sir George Byng]] at the [[Battle of Cape Passaro]] in 1718, and went on to command squadrons in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, before largely retiring from naval service.
Mathews returned to active service in 1741, following Britain's entry to the [[War of the Austrian Succession]], and took command of the fleet in the Mediterranean. The usual difficulties of performing delicate diplomatic duties were further exacerbated by the fact that he was on bad terms with his second in command, [[Richard Lestock]], on whom he relied to manage the fleet. The pivotal moment of his naval career came in 1744, when he attempted to intercept a Franco-Spanish fleet at the [[Battle of Toulon (1744)|Battle of Toulon]]. The action was fought in confused circumstances, with poor communications and the breakdown of the [[command hierarchy|chain of command]]. Despite possessing the superior force, Mathews was unable to secure a decisive result, and the enemy were able to escape with the loss of one ship, while Mathews's fleet lost one and had several others badly damaged.
The failure to secure a victory incensed the British public, and a series of courts-martial and a public inquiry led to several officers being [[cashiering|cashiered]]. Mathews' second in command, Lestock, was tried but acquitted, blaming the outcome on Mathews' poor planning and ill-tempered and unwise attack. Mathews was tried and convicted of the charges, and dismissed from the navy. He returned to his estates at Llandaff, before moving to London and dying there in 1751.
==Family and early life== He was born at [[The Cathedral School, Llandaff|Llandaff Court]], [[Llandaff]], the son of [[Colonel (United Kingdom)|Colonel]] Edward Mathews (died 1700), and grandson on his mother's side of [[Sir Thomas Armstrong]] (1624–1684) (who was executed in 1684, for his part in the [[Rye House Plot]]).<ref name="DNB43">{{cite book | chapter=Mathews, Thomas (1676–1751) | title=Dictionary of National Biography|volume=37|page=43}}</ref> Mathews was also a descendant of the Welsh knight [[Sir David ap Mathew]] and King [[Louis VI of France]]. Mathews joined the navy in 1690, serving aboard {{HMS|Albemarle|1680|6}}, which was then under the command of his uncle, [[Francis Wheler|Sir Francis Wheler]].<ref name="DNB43"/> Mathews served during the [[Nine Years' War]], he may have been present at the [[Battle of Beachy Head (1690)|Battle of Beachy Head]], and was likely in action at the [[Battle of Barfleur]]. Mathews went on to serve aboard {{HMS|Portland|1693|6}} under Captain James Littleton in 1697, and on 31 October 1699 Vice-Admiral [[Matthew Aylmer, 1st Baron Aylmer|Matthew Aylmer]] appointed him lieutenant aboard his [[flagship]], {{HMS|Boyne|1692|6}}.<ref name="DNB43"/> Mathews served with Aylmer in the Mediterranean, before being moved to {{HMS|Deale Castle|1697|6}} in 1700.<ref name="DNB43"/> Mathews went on to serve with [[John Graydon]] in the [[West Indies]], being promoted by him to command {{HMS|Yarmouth|1695|6}}, a position he took up on 24 May 1703.<ref name="DNB43"/>
==Command== He commanded {{HMS|Kingsale|1700|6}} in the [[English Channel]] from 1704, and in October 1708 took command of {{HMS|Gloucester|1695|6}}.<ref name="DNB43"/> His next ship was the newly built {{HMS|Chester|1708|6}}, which was attached to the Channel fleet under [[James Berkeley, 3rd Earl of Berkeley|Lord Berkeley]].<ref name="DNB43"/> The fleet encountered a small French squadron under [[René Duguay-Trouin]] in early 1709. The British gave chase, re-capturing one of Duguay-Trouin's prizes, {{HMS|Bristol|1660|6}}, and capturing another of his ships, ''Gloire''.<ref name="DNB44">{{cite book| chapter=Mathews, Thomas (1676–1751) | title=Dictionary of National Biography|volume=37|page=44}}</ref>
Mathews and ''Chester'' were then assigned to the fleet sent to reduce and capture [[Nova Scotia]] under Commodore George Martin in 1710, and took over command of the force after Martin's return to England.<ref name="DNB44"/> He joined the fleet commanded by [[Rear Admiral]] Sir [[Hovenden Walker]] at [[Boston]] in summer 1711, after which he escorted a convoy to [[New York City]]. ''Chester'' was badly damaged by heavy storms during this mission, and returned to Britain for repairs.<ref name="DNB44"/> Mathews then moved ashore{{why|date=February 2016}}, and spent the next few years at the family seat of Llandaff Court.<ref name="DNB44"/>
Mathews returned to active service in January 1718, following the outbreak of [[War of the Quadruple Alliance|war with Spain]], with a temporary appointment to command [[HMS Expedition (1679)|HMS ''Prince Frederick'']], while a new ship, {{HMS|Kent|1679|6}}, was being fitted out.<ref name="DNB44"/> He took command of ''Kent'' on 31 March 1718, and joined [[George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington|Sir George Byng's]] fleet in the Mediterranean.<ref name="DNB44"/> He participated in the [[Battle of Cape Passaro]] in 1718, and was then detached in command of a squadron assigned to blockade [[Messina]] and hopefully intercept Vice-Admiral [[George Camocke]], a British national serving with the Spanish navy.<ref name="DNB44"/> However, Camocke managed to evade the British and escape in a small boat in January, and the British squadrons were occupied with blockading [[Sicily]] until autumn 1720, when Mathews returned to Britain with Byng.<ref name="DNB44"/>
From 1722 to 1724 he was in command of a small squadron sent to the East Indies to expel the Indian [[Maratha]] [[Koli People|Koli]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/as-nda-cadet-i-was-witness-to-vice-admiral-awatis-kindness/145378/|title=As NDA cadet, I was witness to Vice Admiral Awati's kindness|last=LT GEN K. J.|first=SINGH|website=ThePrint.In|date=5 November 2018 |accessdate=7 November 2018}}</ref>[[Admiral]] [[Kanhoji Angre]] of the [[Malabar Coast]]. The presence of his ships caused Angre's activity to be much reduced, but their strongholds remained impregnable.<ref name="DNB44"/> Mathews' squadron supported Portuguese troops from [[Goa]] in an attack on the Maratha fortress at [[Vijaydurg fort|Vijaydurg]] & [[Kolaba Fort|Kolaba]], but this was repulsed.<ref name="DNB44"/> Mathews returned to Britain in 1724 and thereafter largely retired from the navy, and received no further promotions.<ref name="DNB44"/> It was not until 1736 that he rejoined the service in any capacity, becoming [[Commissioner of Chatham]] dockyard, though the appointment was considered a civil one.<ref name="DNB44"/>
==War of the Austrian Succession== The outbreak of war with Spain and the imminent threat of war with France during the early stages of the [[War of the Austrian Succession]] led to Mathews' return to active service, with a promotion directly to vice-admiral of the red on 13 March 1741.<ref name="DNB44"/> He was given a command in the Mediterranean, and made plenipotentiary to [[Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia|Charles Emmanuel III]], king of [[Kingdom of Sardinia|Sardinia]], and the other courts of Italy. The appointment was somewhat unexpected, Mathews was not especially distinguished, and had not served in the navy for a number of years.<ref name="DNB44"/> His second in command in the Mediterranean was Rear-Admiral [[Richard Lestock]], a man Mathews knew from his time as commissioner at Chatham, when Lestock had commanded the [[guard ship]]s stationed in the [[River Medway|Medway]]. The two had not been on good terms, and on receiving the Mediterranean posting, Mathews requested that Lestock be recalled, a request the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] declined to act upon.<ref name="DNB44"/>
The two men continued their disagreements during their time in the Mediterranean, though Mathews' continued distractions with diplomatic duties meant that they did not break out into an open argument.<ref name="DNB44"/> In 1742, Mathews sent a small squadron to [[Naples]] to compel [[Charles III of Spain|King Charles]], later the King of Spain, to remain neutral. It was commanded by Commodore [[William Martin (Royal Navy officer)|William Martin]], who refused to enter into negotiations, and gave the king half an hour in which to return an answer.{{sfn|Hannay|1911|p=887}} The Neapolitans were forced to agree to the British demands.<ref name="DNB300">{{cite book | chapter=Martin, William (1696–1756) | title=Dictionary of National Biography|volume=37|page=300}}</ref>
In June 1742, a squadron of Spanish galleys, which had taken refuge in the Bay of [[Saint-Tropez]], was burnt by the fire ships of Mathews' fleet. In the meantime a Spanish squadron had taken refuge in [[Toulon]], and was watched by the British fleet from [[Hyères]]. On 21 February 1744 ([[New Style|N.S.]], 10 February O.S.) the Spaniards put to sea in company with a French force. Mathews, who had now returned to his flagship, followed, and an engagement took place on 22 and 23 February.<ref name="DNB44"/>
===Battle of Toulon=== [[File:Toulon, 1744 RCIN 729009.jpg|thumb|Map of the Battle of Toulon]]
The fleets had become scattered in the light winds as they approached, and as they began to form up for the [[Battle of Toulon (1744)|Battle of Toulon]] on 22 February, Mathews signalled for the formation of the [[line of battle]].<ref name="DNB45">{{cite book | chapter=Mathews, Thomas (1676–1751) | title=Dictionary of National Biography|volume=37|page=45}}</ref> The line had still not been formed as night fell, leading Mathews to hoist the signal to come to, intending for his ships to first finish forming the line. The van and centre squadrons did so, but Lestock commanding the rear obeyed the order to come to, without having formed the line. By daybreak on 21 February, the rear of the British fleet was separated by a considerable distance from the van and centre.<ref name="DNB45"/> Mathews signalled for Lestock to make more sail, reluctant to start the attack with his ships still disorganised, but the slowness of Lestock to respond caused the Franco-Spanish force to start to slip away to the south. Mathews feared that they would escape him, and pass through the [[Strait of Gibraltar]] to join the French force gathered at [[Brest, France|Brest]] for the [[Planned French invasion of Britain (1744)|planned invasion of Britain]].<ref name="DNB45"/>
Knowing that his duty was to attack, Mathews hoisted the signal to engage the enemy aboard his [[flagship]] {{HMS|Namur|1697|6}}, and at one o'clock left the line to attack the Spanish rear, followed by Captain [[James Cornewall]] aboard [[HMS St Michael (1669)|HMS ''Marlborough'']].<ref name="DNB45"/> In doing so, the signal to form the line of battle was left flying. The two signals flying simultaneously created confusion, though a number of British commanders, including Captain [[Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke|Edward Hawke]], followed Mathews' example.<ref name="DNB45"/> Heavily outnumbered and unsupported, with his other commanders either too uncertain, or in the case of Lestock, possibly pleased to see Mathews in difficulty and unwilling to help him, ''Namur'' and ''Marlborough'' managed to defeat their opposite numbers in the enemy line, but suffered considerable damage. The French ships came about at 5 o'clock to aid the Spanish, a manoeuvre interpreted by some of the British commanders to be an attempt to double the British line and surround them.<ref name="DNB45"/>
With no orders from Mathews and a lack of clear instructions or command structure, the British line broke, and began to flee to the northwest.<ref name="DNB45"/> The Spanish, still on the defensive, neglected to capture the defenceless ''Marlborough'', though they did retake the ''Poder'', which had previously surrendered to the British.<ref name="DNB45"/> The Franco-Spanish fleet then resumed their flight to the southwest, and it was not until 23 February that the British were able to regroup and resume the pursuit. They caught up with the enemy fleet again, which was hampered by towing damaged ships, and were able to retake the ''Poder'', which Mathews ordered to be burnt.<ref name="DNB45"/> By now the British had closed to within a few miles of the enemy fleet but Mathews again signalled for the fleet to come to. The following day, 24 February, the Franco-Spanish fleet was almost out of sight, and Mathews returned to Hyères, and sailed from there to [[Mahón|Port Mahon]], where he arrived in early March.<ref name="DNB45"/>
==Inquiry and dismissal== The failure of the British fleet to bring a decisive action against an inferior foe had significant consequences. The opposing fleet was able to deliver troops and supplies to the Spanish army in Italy, swinging the war in their favour.<ref name="DNB45"/> This was widely remarked on back in Britain. The [[House of Commons of Great Britain|House of Commons]] petitioned [[George II of Great Britain|King George II]] for a public inquiry. A dozen captains were tried by court-martial and cashiered.<ref name="DNB45"/> Lestock was also tried, but was able to place the blame on Mathews, and, with the help of powerful supporters in government, was acquitted and offered further employment.<ref name="DNB45"/> Mathews was tried by court-martial in 1746, on charges of having brought the fleet into action in a disorganised manner, of having fled the enemy, and of having failed to bring the enemy to action when the conditions were advantageous.<ref name="DNB45"/> In his defence, it was shown that he had fought bravely. However, in June 1747, the court judged the charges were proven and Mathews was dismissed from the service.<ref name="DNB45"/>
Mathews had devoted himself to work at his estate at Llandaff, and did not appear to be affected by the result of the trial.<ref name="DNB46">{{cite book | chapter=Mathews, Thomas (1676–1751) | title=Dictionary of National Biography|volume=37|page=46}}</ref> He regarded the outcome as down to factional party politics, rather than as a reflection on his conduct.<ref name="DNB46"/> Mathews moved to [[Bloomsbury Square]] in 1749 and died there on 2 October 1751. He was buried at [[St George's, Bloomsbury]].<ref name="DNB46"/>
==Personality== Mathews' personality was the subject of particular study during the controversy over Toulon, with his detractors claiming that he was hot-headed, intemperate, and incapable of managing the complex task of commanding a fleet in battle, which had led to the defeat. [[Horace Walpole]], in his correspondence with [[Sir Horace Mann, 1st Baronet|Sir Horace Mann]], noted that "Mathews believes that Providence lives upon beef and pudding, loves prize-fighting and bull-baiting, and drinks fog to the health of Old England."<ref name="DNB46"/> In a speech in the Commons Walpole declared "Mathews remains in the light of a hot, brave, imperious, dull, confused fellow."<ref name="DNB46"/> Mann, who was strongly opposed to how Naples' neutrality had been violated during Mathews' tenure as commander in the Mediterranean, declared "'Tis wonderful how void Admiral Mathews is of common sense, good manners, or knowledge of the world. He understands nothing but Yes or No, and knows no medium."<ref name="DNB46"/> Walpole and his correspondents often referred to Mathews as "Il Furibondo".<ref name="DNB46"/> Despite their criticism, those who knew Mathews personally, while admitting that he could be hot-tempered, described him as "warm-hearted, kindly and affectionate; a clear-sighted magistrate, a capable farmer, and a keen sportsman".<ref name="DNB46"/>
==Family and issue== Mathews married Henrietta Burgess, of [[Antigua]], in 1705. The couple had a son, Thomas, who became a major in the army.<ref name="DNB46"/> Henrietta died about 1740, and Mathews remarried about 1745, to Millicent Powell.<ref name="DNB46"/>
==Notes== {{Reflist}}
==References== {{refbegin}} *{{EB1911|wstitle=Mathews, Thomas|volume=17|pages=887–888|first=David|last=Hannay|authorlink=David Hannay (historian)}} *{{cite book |first=J. K. |last=Laughton|author-link=J. K. Laughton|chapter=Mathews, Thomas (1676–1751)|title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1894 |volume=37}} *{{cite book |first=J. K. |last=Laughton|author-link=J. K. Laughton|chapter=Martin, William (1696–1756)|title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1894 |volume=37}} {{refend}}
{{s-start}} {{s-hon}} {{succession box | title=[[Rear-Admiral of Great Britain]] | before=[[John Jennings (Royal Navy officer)|Sir John Jennings]] | years=1743–1749 | after=[[William Rowley (Royal Navy officer)|Sir William Rowley]]}} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathews, Thomas}} [[Category:1676 births]] [[Category:1751 deaths]] [[Category:Military personnel from Cardiff]] [[Category:Royal Navy admirals]] [[Category:English military personnel of the Nine Years' War]] [[Category:Royal Navy personnel of the War of the Austrian Succession]] [[Category:Royal Navy officers who were court-martialled]] [[Category:British military personnel of the War of the Quadruple Alliance]]