George Anson of Charleston and Carshalton

George Anson is best known for commanding a British naval squadron on an epic circumnavigation of the world, 1740-1744. The voyage was in some ways a disaster. Of his six ships, all but one was unable to complete the journey. Many of his men died of scurvy, then the scourge of long voyages. But he did capture a Spanish ship loaded with treasure near the Philippines. [Image: George Anson, by Thomas Hudson]

In 1747, Anson captured an entire French squadron at the First Battle of Cape Finisterre, which provided him an enormous treasure. In reward, the government awarded him a peerage, as First Baron Anson.

In 1751 the government appointed him First Lord of the Admiralty. In that capacity, he was responsible for reforms that greatly improved the efficiency of the British Navy during the Seven Years War (1756-63). He also commissioned an investigation into the causes and cure for scurvy. Anson died near the end of the war, in 1762, aged 65.

I have a "special connection" to Anson. No, we are not related, except maybe through Adam and Eve. It is this: he lived in two places I have lived in, in Charleston, South Carolina in America and Carshalton, Surrey, in England.

I first learned about Anson's Charleston connection while working as a history professor at the College of Charleston. One of the neighborhoods of the city is named after him, Ansonborough. So are Anson Street, the Anson Restaurant, Ansonborough House, and the Ansonborough Inn. George Street was also named for him. Several other streets were named for ships he commanded but they have other names now.

In 1724, when he was only 26 but already a captain, the Royal Navy sent Anson to Charleston in command of a small squadron to defend the city and its region from pirate attacks. He remained in that capacity until 1735, long after pirates had ceased to be a major threat. 

In 1726, he purchased 64 acres of land on the Charleston peninsula. That land later became the town's first "suburb," Ansonborough. According to one story, perhaps apocryphal, Anson won the money he used to buy the land in a card game. 

Now for Carshalton. In 1749 Anson leased Carshalton House, a country house originally built around 1700 for a tobacco merchant, Edward Carlton. He went bankrupt and the house passed to several other owners before Anson leased it. Anson lived there until 1752, when he moved to a house he had built in Hertfordshire, Moor Park. [Image: Carshalton House. The building to the right here.]

In the late 19th century, an order of Catholic nuns purchased Carshalton House and grounds. They established a primary and high school for girls there, St. Philomena's. It is still in operation only five minutes' walk from my house. 

Most Folks in Carshalton have probably never heard of Anson. Lots of Charlestonians will certainly be familiar with his name because it is everywhere. How many know why is another matter. But be ye from Charleston or Carshalton, raise a glass for Admiral Anson! I'll raise two! We’ll meet at the Anson Arms pub, as soon as it’s built!

Interestingly, the online articles about Anson do not mention his connections to Charleston or Carshalton. If I hadn't lived in these places, I would never have known about them.