(Charles), earl of Peterborough, a celebrated commander both by sea and land, was the son of John Lord Mordaunt viscount Avalon, and was born about the year 1638. In 1675 he succeeded his father in his honours and estate. While young he served under the admirals Torrington and Narborough in the Mediterranean against the Algerines; and in 1680 embarked for Africa with the earl of Plymouth, and distinguished himself at Tangier when it was besieged by the Moors. In the reign of James II. he voted against the repeal of the test act; and disliking the measures of the court, obtained leave to go to Holland to accept the command of a Dutch squadron in the West Indies. He afterwards accompanied the prince of Orange into this kingdom; and upon his advancement to the throne, was sworn of the privy-council, made one of the lords of the bedchamber to his majesty, also first commissioner of the treasury, and advanced to the dignity of earl of Monmouth. But in November 1690 he was dismissed from his post in the treasury. On the death of his uncle Henry earl of Peterborough in 1697, he succeeded to that title; and, upon the accession of Queen Anne, was invested with the commission of captain-general and governor of Jamaica. In 1705 he was sworn of the privy-council; and the same year declared general and commander in chief of the forces sent to Spain, and joint admiral of the fleet with Sir Cloudesley Shovel, of which the year following he had the sole command. His taking Barcelona with a handful of men, and afterwards relieving it when greatly distressed by the enemy; his driving out of Spain the duke of Anjou, and the French army, which consisted of 25,000 men, though his own troops never amounted to 10,000; his gaining possession of Catalonia, of the kingdoms of Valencia, Arragon, and the isle of Majorca, with part of Murcia and Caltile, and thereby giving the earl of Galway an opportunity of advancing to Madrid without a blow; are astonishing instances of his bravery and conduct. For these important services his Lordship was declared general in Spain by Charles III. afterwards emperor of Germany; and on his return to England he received the thanks of the House of Lords. His Lordship was afterwards employed in several embassies to foreign courts, installed knight of the garter, and made governor of Minorca. In the reign of George I. he was general of all the marine forces in Great Britain, in which post he was continued by King George II. He died in his passage to Lisbon, where he was going for the recovery of his health, in 1735.—His Lordship was distinguished by his possessing various shining qualities: for, to the greatest personal courage and resolution, he added all the arts and address of a general; a lively and penetrating genius; and a great extent of knowledge upon almost every subject of importance within the compass of Mordella, of ancient and modern literature; hence his familiar letters, inserted among those of his friend Mr Pope, are an ornament to that excellent collection.