Dursley commanded HMS '' St George '' in 1706 , and narrowly escaped the Scilly naval disaster in which Sir Cloudesley Shovell in HMS '' Association '' was lost on 23 October 1707 . The '' St George '' ran aground on the same ledge as the '' Association '' , but was lifted off with the next wave . It is said that it was Dursley who gave his close friend Shovell the priceless emerald ring which features prominently in some of the legends still told about the disaster . With the death of Sir Clowdisley Shovell , a promotion of flag-officers was made . Rear Admiral Robert Fairfax , was to be commissioned as a Vice Admiral of the Blue ( it was signed by the Lord High Admiral and gazetted ) but was then cancelled , and Dursley , who was his junior and because of the political influence of his family , made Vice Admiral of the Blue in his stead with seniority of 10 January 1708 . Dursley was then promoted to Vice Admiral of the White in late 1708 . In April 1709 he recaptured HMS '' Bristol '' , which had been taken by the French a short time earlier , but she sank shortly afterwards . Dursley was promoted to Vice Admiral of the Red in December 1709
Scilly naval disaster
Scilly naval disaster of 1707
James Berkeley, 3rd Earl of Berkeley