Captain John Borlase Warren (1753-1822)

A half-length portrait to the left, wearing a captain's full dress uniform and the star and ribbon of a KB. Warren originally intended to enter the church, but in a change of heart he joined the navy instead. Nonetheless he became a Member of Parliament for Great Marlow in Buckinghamshire, while still a midshipman. He served in the American War of Independence, and during the Revolutionary Wars in 1794 was commodore of a frigate squadron on the coast of France. He intercepted a French squadron and captured three out of four. In the same year he took a French Royalist army to Quiberon Bay, landed them and picked up the survivors after they were defeated. In 1798 he foiled a French attempt on Ireland by capturing four of their ships. In 1802 he went as Ambassador Extraordinary to Russia. He was at sea again in 1806 when his squadron captured the French ships 'Marengo' and the 'Belle Poule'. He was Commander-in-Chief on the North American Station between1813-1814. The original portrait was painted before 1799, and there is also a print which may be related to this portrait. The artist was a lieutenant in the marines on board the 'Canada' during Warren's attack on the French off Donegal on 12 October 1798. He produced two prints of the action which, together with the portrait of Warren, were engraved by Fittler. This portrait is thought to be a replica of the original, and was presented to Greenwich Hospital Collection by the admiral's widow.Mark Oates