Origins
He was born about 1653, the fifth son of Humphrey Cornewall Member of parliament, MP and his wife Theophila Skynner (1622–1718).Career
Cornewall began his career in the army, joining the Duke of Monmouth's Regiment as an Ensign (rank), Ensign on 12 June 1679, transferring to Percy Kirke, Colonel Kirke's Regiment in English Tangier, Tangier in 1681. He seems also to have served in the navy around this time, being appointed Lieutenant (navy), Lieutenant aboard HMS Tyger (1647), HMS ''Tyger'' on 30 January 1682. Returning to the army, he was appointed Ensign in the Duke of York's Regiment on 2 May 1684 before transferring to the cavalry as a Cornet (military rank), Cornet in the Royal Horse Guards later that year. In 1687 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the same regiment. By 1688 he had switched back to the navy, and was given command of on 23 August that year. On 26 November 1688 he was briefly appointed to , before being put in charge of on 23 December 1688. The following year he escorted convoys to Ireland, then in the grip of the Williamite War in Ireland, Williamite War. In April 1689 the ''Swallow'' escorted a convoy under the orders of John Cunningham (officer), Colonel Cunningham in a landing of two regiments at Derry, and was a member of the council of war that decided to abandon the expedition. In late May and early June the ''Swallow'', together with HMS Bonaventure (1650), HMS ''Bonaventure'' and HMS Dartmouth (1655), HMS ''Dartmouth'') escorted a convoy under the orders of Major-general (United Kingdom), Major-General Percy Kirke. In September Cornewall came ashore and took part as a volunteer assaulting the breach during the Siege of Cork under the orders of the then John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Earl of Marlborough. In 1690 he was given command of and took part in the Battle of Beachy Head (1690), Battle of Beachy Head on 30 June, at which action he "behaved with the greatest gallantry." Despite this, he somehow inspired the disfavour of William III of England, William III and was removed from his command, causing Admiral (Royal Navy), Admiral Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford, Edward Russell to write to the King on his behalf:I have a request to make you on behalf of Capt. (Wolfran) Cornwall, one of the officers on whom you showed your displeasure, in giving command to dispossess him of his ship, which has been so great a punishment to him. He is not only a very good officer, but an extremely gallant gentleman. I hope you will allow me to put him into a noble ship for this summer's service. He was one of the first sea officers I trusted with your coming over, and he is a man of merit, and I will answer for the character I have given him.The request was granted, and Cornewall was given command of in 1691. The following year he commanded and was engaged at the Battle of Barfleur and La Hogue, Battle of Barfleur on 19 May 1692. Still aboard this vessel the following year, he was one of the seconds to Vice admiral (Royal Navy), Vice admiral Matthew Aylmer, 1st Baron Aylmer, Matthew Aylmer. In recognition of his services, he was given command of a troop of his old regiment, the Royal Horse Guards, in 1693. In 1694 he was given his final command, the 100 gun first-rate , and was second-in-command to Rear admiral (Royal Navy), Rear admiral Edward Whitaker in 1696. At the Peace of Ryswick in 1697 he retired, and lived out his life on a pension equivalent to a first-rate captain's pay.
Marriage and children
Cornewall married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth Humfrey, with whom he had a daughter: * Rose Cornewall, married Robert Forder and was the maternal grandmother of Charles Wolfran Cornwall. His second wife was Elizabeth Devereux (d. 1741) with whom he had two more daughters: * Amarantha Cornewall (1700–1785), married Colonel Charles Jenkinson (1693–1750) and was mother of Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool * Bette Cornewall (b. 1705) His great-grandson was Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, Robert Jenkinson, the 23rd Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He died on 21 January 1720, and is commemorated with a stone in the nave of Bath Abbey.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cornewall, Wolfran 1650s births 1720 deaths Royal Navy officers 17th-century Royal Navy personnel Soldiers of the Tangier Garrison