 Complete the following phrase:  Mordaunt was promoted to commander in April 1703. Through the influence of Lord Wharton, he was elected as Whig member for Malmesbury at the 1705 English general election. He was not active in Parliament, due to his frequent absences at sea but was able to support the Court with regard to the place clause in the regency bill on 18 February1706. In 1706 he was promoted to captain and was given command of , a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line. At the time Britain was at 