Admiral Edward Boscawen (1711–1761) was a naval officer and politician, After three years of successful action in the war against Spain he returned to England and was elected member of parliament for the Boscawen family seat of Truro. The Boscawens enjoyed a rare interlude of domestic stability during four years of peacetime between 1750 and 1754. In autumn 1754 Frances gave birth to a stillborn daughter and was ill for several months afterwards. On her recovery Edward was called away to fight in America. In 1755, as relations between Britain and France rapidly deteriorated, Boscawen was placed in command of a secret expedition to intercept a French squadron bound for Louisbourg in Canada. Admiral Boscawen took action against Admiral de le Motte’s separated squadron, and on 8 June 1755, Boscawen’s premature capture of the French ships Alcide and Lys in April 1755 helped precipitate the outbreak of the Seven Years’ War’.