Loss of the Resolution

On 13 March 1706-7, with the Enterprise and Milford frigates in company, he sailed from Barcelona for Genoa, carrying as passengers his father, the Earl of Peterborough, and an ambassador from the titular king of Spain to the Duke of Savoy. On the 19th he fell in with a French squadron of six ships of the line, newly out of Toulon, and which, with clean bottoms, came up fast with the English. The Earl of Peterborough and the ambassador went on board the Enterprise, which, with the Milford, effected her escape. By daybreak of the 20th the enemy's ships were well up with and engaged the Resolution, which defended herself stoutly. In the afternoon, when she was much shattered, Mordaunt ran her ashore near Ventimiglia. The French then sent in their boats to burn her, but these were beaten off. During the night an 80-gun ship succeeded in getting within gunshot, and as the Resolution was by this time full of water, and her magazine drowned, it was resolved to set her on fire and abandon her. This was done during the morning of the 21st; her men were all landed, and by eleven o'clock the ship was burnt to the water. Mordaunt was severely wounded in the leg, and obliged to return to England, which he did overland, through France, on a passport readily given on his father's request. On 25 Nov. 1709 he was tried by court-martial for the loss of his ship, and acquitted, the court resolving that he had behaved with 'great courage and conduct'