John Wheelock

Posted by Albert Parker on Sunday 9th of August 2020 00:56

In the action between _Russell_, 80 and Spanish 70 _Glorioso_ on October 7/18, 1747, off Cape St. Vincent, "As for the officer who was shot in the face . . . it was first lieutenant John Wheelock." Agustín Pacheco Fernandez, _El «Glorioso»_ (3rd ed.; [Vallodolid]: Galland Books Editorial, 2016), p. 162 (my translation). _Russell_ was going home for a badly needed refit, and had transferred about a third of her crew to ships that were staying in the Mediterranean. Perhaps Wheelock was transferred so that he could go home to seek employment more likely to get him promoted. Medley had died on August 5/16 and had been succeeded as Mediterranean c-in-c by his second in command, Rear-Adm. Hon. John Byng (yes, THAT Byng).