The Edgcumbe family, which is of great antiquity in Devonshire, derives its name from the beautiful manor of Edgcumbe, situated in that county.

George, Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, the subject of this memoir, was the second son of Richard, who was created Baron of Mount Edgcumbe, by George the IId. on the 20th of April, 1742. Having made choice of a maritime life, he went to sea, when very young, as midshipman on board one of the ships stationed in the Mediterranean, under the orders of Admiral Haddock. As early as the 19th of August, 1744, having passed through the subordinate ranks of lieutenant and commander, he was made post captain in the Kennington, of 20 guns; and, towards the end of the following year, he was promoted to the command of the Salisbury, of 50 guns, in which he remained till the conclusion of the war. On the 30th of January, 1747, while on a cruise, in the latitude of 47 deg. 47 min. 106 leagues to the westward of Scilly, he had the good fortune to fall in with, and capture, the Jason, a French East India ship, of 30 guns, and 180 men, bound from Port l'Orient to Pondicherry. Besides a cargo of stores and ammunition, the Jason had eight cases of silver on board, which materially enhanced her value to the captors.