Commanding a sloop he took part in the capture of one of the most valuable prizes taken in the entire conflict, and became immensely wealthy overnight from his success.

He married and settled on his estate, but despite his riches, chose to return to active service on the outbreak of the American War of Independence.

His service in North America was marked with successes in supporting and conveying troops, and engaging in larger fleet actions such as the relief of Gibraltar.

He took part in a hard-fought action against a French privateer in 1779, and received a musket ball to the chest, which remained with him for the rest of his life.

He again engaged a heavily armed privateer the following year, and this time was killed by a cannonball in the heat of the action, which was brought to a successful conclusion by his first lieutenant.

His death was marked with tributes from the leading naval figures of his age, including Admiral John Jervis and Edward Pellew.

Namur was at this time the flagship of Admiral Edward Boscawen, who became Pownoll's patron and rapidly promoted him from fourth to first lieutenant, and then on 6 August 1759 to commander of the sloop HMS Favourite.

[4] Two French ships, the 64-gun Achille and the frigate Bouffonne escaped the port on 16 July, but were chased down and brought to action the following day by the British squadron.

[1] On 15 May Favourite was sailing in company with Captain Herbert Sawyer's frigate HMS Active off Cape St Mary, when a Spanish ship was sighted and chased down.

[6] Pownoll and Sawyer each received captain's shares of the prize money of £64,872, approximately £12.2 million at today's prices[6], amounting to one of the largest individual sums obtained in the period.

[2] Despite his immense wealth Pownoll returned to naval service in late 1774, shortly after the outbreak of the American War of Independence.

[1] The young midshipman was Edward Pellew, who had been turned out of his previous ship, HMS Alarm, after a quarrel with her captain, John Stott, but went on to become one of the great naval commanders of his age.

[1] Blonde sailed for North America in April that year, in company with the frigate HMS Juno, and via St Helen's, where they collected a convoy of twenty transports carrying troops under General John Burgoyne.

[b][10] By now a popular figure with his men, Pownoll was able to write to Lord Sandwich that he was '...happily situated in a fine ship & exceedingly well manned with all volunteers except 15 landsmen I received from Admiral Amherst to complete my compliment [sic] not having time to do it myself.

'[11] Apollo served for a time as Lord Howe's flagship from August 1778, and had returned to be refitted and coppered at Plymouth in December that year.

[1] Edward Osler wrote in 1835 that 'St Vincent and Pownoll who were brought up under Boscawen, and received their Lieutenant's commission from him, contributed materially to form a Nelson or an Exmouth; each the founder of a school of officers, whose model is the character of their chief, and their example his successes.