First Lord of the Admiralty (third spell) John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich

sandwich served again first lord of admiralty in lord north s administration 1771 1782. replaced distinguished admiral sir edward hawke in post. appointment post followed falklands crisis had seen britain go war spain on falkland islands in south atlantic ocean after capture of port egmont spanish forces. war had been averted when louis xvi of france refused spanish on dispute. both france , spain resented considered british hegemony following 7 years war, , desired overturn imbalance of power; war expected break out between nations in near future.

sandwich s administration of navy in lead , during american war of independence traditionally portrayed being incompetent, insufficient ships being ready outbreak of war france in 1778. when britain , france went war, sandwich advocated strategy of concentrating british fleet in european waters deter invasion in opposition colleague, lord germain, pushed more ships sent north america. cabinet largely followed sandwich s policy, retaining footholds on american coast used naval bases, while retaining bulk of fleet @ home. sandwich s problems increased when spain entered war on france s side in 1779 giving bourbon fleets numerical advantage on royal navy.

during 1779 combined franco-spanish fleet able sail english channel threaten coast of cornwall in initial stage of franco-spanish invasion of britain. sandwich criticised failure of smaller british channel fleet prevent this, although invasion never materialised. after 1778, primary objective in war maintaining control on sugar-rich west indian archipelago.