Vice-Admiral Temple West (1713 – 9 August 1757) was a British naval officer, best known for his role as second-in-command to Admiral John Byng during the Battle of Minorca in 1756.
During the Battle of Toulon, Warwick was one of three ships that broke up a Franco-Spanish movement to weather the British line, but did so contrary to orders.
[10] In 1756, West, now a rear-admiral, was appointed second-in-command to Admiral Byng to lead a hastily assembled squadron to the relief of Menorca.
West, on the contrary, was received as a hero, and was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty[11] on 17 November 1756 and promoted to Vice-Admiral.
The fate of his superior greatly affected West, who afterwards declined a command, saying that "although he could answer for his loyalty and good intentions, he could not undertake to be held capitally responsible on all occasions for the correctness of his judgment".