This detail from a panoramic painting of the military serving on Minorca in the 1770s shows Governor John Mostyn in 1771 talking to an officer of the 25th Regiment. Fort St Philip is in the background of the painting, said to be by Guiseppe Chiesa. Mostyn wears a very fine general officer's coat with complicated lace and gilt buttons. In the Memoirs of Sir James Campbell of Ardkinglas (1832), Campbell writes about John Mostyn giving an amusing insight into his character:
‘I think I have already mentioned that my friend General Mostyn had been gentleman of the bed-chamber to George the Second; he could not with strict propriety be said to have been a favourite of the King; he was rather a friend whom his Majesty could not live without. George the Second was known to play his party at whist every evening; and was never satisfied if General Mostyn did not make one of the number. One evening, the General could not be found; and the King, who was far from being dull in discovering the characters and habits of those around him, exclaimed in his vexation at the delay of his party, “Go, bring him directly. If he be not with Peg Woffington, he will be found in one [whore] house.”’
Campbell goes on to say that Mostyn was aware of his limitations so that when the King offered him the command of the Expedition to Havannah, he declined because he felt it was beyond his capabilities, and although he was an accomplished commander of cavalry, felt he could not be put in charge of such a large undertaking involving a series of combined operations by sea and land.
‘It was some time after this that General Mostyn accepted the government of Minorca, at the period when a probability had arisen of a war with Spain. Although considerably advanced in years, he felt all his youthful energies revive in the prospect of a battle. Among the troops, he was considered a strict disciplinarian; but as he attended on all occasions with the most rigid punctuality to the performance of his own duty, the troops were less disposed to murmur at the strict discipline which he exacted from those under his command.’
Campbell mischievously revealed that Mostyn helped himself to the King’s linen. It was noticed that much of Mostyn’s linen had the King’s cypher embroidered, and this he explained simply that there was so much of it that he saw no need to buy his own.
There was a difficult atmosphere between Governor Mostyn and Lord George Lennox, Colonel of the 25th Regiment stationed on Minorca. They had a disagreement which ended up with Lennox being court-martialed for insubordination. Lord Lennox was found to be in the wrong, and ordered to apologise, but he refused for a period of three months while a message was sent to England to apply for the King’s sanction. For this whole period, Lennox stayed in his small house, no more than a shed, refusing to take exercise outside. Campbell wrote about Lennox’s stubborn nature and Mostyn’s response:
‘To all this, General Mostyn’s temper was as opposite as possible. He was hasty and warm, but at the same time good-natured and considerate…I went to General Mostyn and explained to him how the matter stood; but the General said, what was no doubt quite reasonable, that he could neither ask nor command him to do what seemed necessary, but that I was at liberty to say, that nothing would give His Excellency greater pleasure than to hear that Lord George Lennox took the benefit of such exercise as his Lordship might find necessary or agreeable.’
John Mostyn was born in 1709, so was 59 when he was appointed Governor of Minorca in 1768. He was the son of Sir Roger Mostyn 3rd Bt, of Mostyn Hall, Holywell, Flintshire in Wales. John’s mother was Lady Essex Finch, daughter of the Earl of Winchelsea. He was one of 12 children, educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. He joined the army in 1733 and was wounded at Fontenoy. Although he started out as an infantry officer in the 31st Foot and the 2nd Foot Guards, he made his reputation as an accomplished commander of cavalry. He reached the rank of General and was appointed Colonel of several regiments:
7th Royal Fusiliers — 26 Jan 1751
13th Dragoons — 8 Jul 1754
5th Royal Irish Dragoons — 18 Oct 1758
7th Queen’s Own Dragoons — 18 Aug 1760
1st King’s Dragoon Guards — 13 May 1763
He served as Groom of the Bedchamber to King George II from 1746 until his death. He was also MP for Malton from 1741 to 1768. He was promoted to the rank of General in 1772 while he was the Governor of Minorca. That post finished in 1778 and he returned to Wales where he died on 16 February 1779. He was not married.
