File:The celebrated English privateer squadron known as the 'Royal Family' engaging enemy ships during the War of the Austrian Succession.png

English: The celebrated English privateer squadron known as the 'Royal Family' engaging enemy ships during the War of the Austrian Succession

During the 'War of Jenkins' Ear', from 1739 developed into the War of the Austrian Succession. This gave scope for the formation of a buccaneering squadron of English privateers which came to the notice of the nation's attention but and provided huge profits for its backers.

Commanded by Captain James Talbot, the squadron initially consisted of three armed ships, the 500-ton 30-gun flagship Prince Frederick, the 300-ton 20-gun Duke (Captain Morecock) and the much smaller Prince George. The Prince George was to capsize and sink five days out from Cowes, on 2nd June 1745, with the loss of all but twenty of her crew. The two remaining ships continued out into the North Atlantic where, on 10th July, they sighted, chased and captured two French vessels – the Marquese d'Antin and the Louis Erasme which were returning home from Lima loaded with a cargo of 1,093 chests of silver bullion, along with large quantities of gold and silver plate and other valuables. When the privateers and their prizes made port at Bristol on 8th September, the captured treasure was quickly assessed and then transported to London in forty-five wagons guarded by armed sailors on horseback. Arriving at the Tower, the treasure was officially valued at £700,000 (some estimates put it as high as £1 million) which the owners promptly loaned to the Government to finance the operations to put down the Jacobite Rebellion; when the proceeds were finally divided, even the most humble sailor received £850. Talbot himself, now an extremely rich man, retired from the sea to join the merchants' syndicate which soon funded the celebrated privateer squadron which succeeded his own, and which came to be known as the 'Royal Family'.

The following year (1746), the newly-christened 'Royal Family' – now under the command of Commodore George Walker and expanded by the addition of new ships all named for various members of King George II's family – enjoyed further profitable cruises and the next year (1747) saw the capture of another valuable prize, the Spanish 74-gun Glorioso whose cargo was valued at £700,000. This seizure took place in October 1747, after which the 'Royal Family' returned home for the winter prior to being disbanded following the end of the War in 1748.

signed 'C. Brooking P.' (lower left)

oil on canvas

49.5 x 80cm (19 1/2 x 31 1/2in).