He initially served as a midshipman on the sixth - rate HMS Seahorse and then transferred to the fourth - rate HMS Hector in March 1731 .
Born the son of James Saunders of Bridgwater , Somerset , Saunders joined the Royal Navy in October 1727 .
Saunders initially served as a midshipman on the sixth - rate HMS Seahorse and then transferred to the fourth - rate HMS Hector in March 1731 .
Born the son of James Saunders of Bridgwater , Somerset , Saunders joined the Royal Navy in October 1727 .