Command
On 23 March 1756 Lockhart was posted to the 28-gun HMS Tartar, which he commanded for several cruises in the Channel, capturing several large privateers of equal or superior force, among them the 22-gun Cerf with 211 men, the 26-gun Grand Gideon with 190 men, and the 20-gun Mont-Ozier of Rochelle with 170 men. Lockhart was severely wounded in the capture of the Mont-Ozier on 17 February 1757, and had to be invalided on shore for the next two months. He rejoined the Tartar and on 15 April, off Dunnose, he captured the 26-gun Duc d'Aiguillon of St. Malo with 254 men; and on 2 November the 36-gun Melampe with 320 men. The latter ship was added to the navy as the 36-gun frigate HMS Melampus.
As a reward for Lockhart's services, the Admiralty offered him the command of the 50-gun HMS Chatham, which was then nearing completion, and making several promotions from Tartar's crew. He was also presented by the merchants of London and of Bristol with pieces of plate ‘for his signal service in supporting the trade;’ and by the corporation of Plymouth with the freedom of the borough in a gold box. Lockhart spent the next few months recuperating at Bath and waiting for the Chatham to be launched. She was duly launched in April 1758 and Lockhart took command, taking many of his officers and men from Tartar to crew her, with the Admiralty's permission. Lockhart had her fitted for sea by May, and spent June to September cruising against privateers in the North Sea.
Chatham was then ordered into the Channel and later joined the fleet under Sir Edward Hawke. She spent the summer detached off Le Havre under Rear-Admiral George Brydges Rodney, rejoining Hawke in October, and then being sent to join a squadron under Commodore Robert Duff, to watch the French in Quiberon Bay. The squadron observed the French fleet sail out, and were chased by them as they rushed to report the news to Hawke. Hawke brought his fleet against them and decisively defeated them at the Battle of Quiberon Bay on 20 November 1759. Four days later Hawke appointed Lockhart to command HMS Royal George in the place of Captain John Campbell, who was sent home with the despatches. In the end of January 1760 the Royal George came to Spithead, and a month later Lockhart was appointed to command the 64-gun HMS Bedford, forming part of the fleet under Hawke or Edward Boscawen.
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