Charles Wager

Sir Charles Wager (1666 - 1743) was an English Admiral.

He was grandson of John Wager, mariner of Rochester in Kent, and son of Charles Wager (1630 - 1666), captain in the Navy, and Prudence Goodsonn.

He served chiefly in the Mediterranean, becoming Captain 1692, Rear-Admiral 1707 and Commander in Chief in the West Indies.

His most famous exploit, known as "Wager’s Action" was on May 28 1708 aboard the Expedition when he defeated and destroyed the Spanish treasure fleet at Cartagena, Colombia.

This made him a wealthy man and he was knighted in 1709. He was promoted to Admiral in 1731 and was also Treasurer of the Navy.

He married Martha Earning on December 8 1691, but they had no children.
He died on May 24 1743 and was buried in the north transept of Westminster Abbey.
His wife was buried with him in 1748.
A monument by Peter Scheemakers was erected in 1747 against the north wall of this transept. The bas-relief shows his famous naval engagement, with the inscription "The destroying & taking the SPANISH GALLEONS A.D. 1708".