biography text
On the occurrence of two vacancies on the board of Admiralty at the end of 1743, Hardy, who had recently attained flag rank after nearly half a century’s service, was appointed to one of them. According to Horace Walpole (to Mann, 30 Nov. 1743), Carteret, whose follower, Lord Winchilsea was then first lord of the Admiralty, filled both vacancies without the knowledge of the Pelhams. Returned for Portsmouth on the Admiralty interest, he voted for the Hanoverians in January 1744, dying 27 Nov. that year.