Edward Vernon Military person
Edward Vernon ("Old Grog") (12 November 1684 – 30 October 1757) was an English naval officer. Vernon was born in Westminster and went to Westminster School. He joined the Royal Navy in 1700 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1702. After five years as Lieutenant, he was appointed Captain in 1706. His first command was the HMS Rye, part of the fleet of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell. The origin of the name "grog" for rum diluted with water and lemon or lime juice is attributed to Vernon. He innovated this way to serve the daily rum ration to Royal Navy sailors in 1740, keeping the water fresher. He was known for wearing coats made of grogram cloth, earning him the nickname of Old Grog, which in turn came to mean diluted rum. The use of citrus juice helped to avoid scurvy. Mount Vernon, the home of the first American president George Washington, was named after Vernon, since Washington's elder brother served under Edward Vernon, and gave it his name.
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Military person
| military operations | |
|---|---|
| military command | * *Commander-in-chief Jamaica *Commander-in-chief North Sea *HMS Dolphin |
| service start | 1700 |
| service end | 1746 |