John Lawford

His interception of a Swedish convoy in the English Channel further strained relations between Britain and Sweden, though Lawford was also to be involved in the breakup of the League of Armed Neutrality, when he formed part of Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson's fleet at the Battle of Copenhagen.

[3] Lawford then took command of the 16-gun sloop HMS Hound during the Spanish Armament and was stationed initially in the English Channel, before departing for Jamaica on 22 October 1790, where he spent the next two years.

[7] Lawford and Romney became involved in an incident with a convoy of Swedish merchants sailing from the Mediterranean with cargoes of pitch, hemp, iron, deals and tar.

[7] Lawford took command of the 64-gun HMS Polyphemus in August 1800, and went out with the fleet sent out under Sir Hyde Parker to compel the Danes to abandon the League of Armed Neutrality.

[2][9] Polyphemus was part of Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson's squadron sent in to attack the Danish fleet at anchor at the Battle of Copenhagen on 2 April 1801.

[10] Polyphemus was not part of Nelson's original plan, but he had to improvise when HMS Agamemnon ran aground on shoals at the entrance to the harbour, and could not free herself.

[9] Polyphemus returned to Britain and was paid off into ordinary in April 1802, and after being refitted at Chatham Dockyard between March and September 1804, was recommissioned under Lawford.

[2][13] His award of the KCB was the only honorary reward specifically for gallantry at Copenhagen 37 years previously, made to any of the captains who were present.