anson was the son of william anson of shugborough in staffordshire and isabella carrier, whose brother-in-law was the earl of macclesfield and lord chancellor, a relationship that proved very useful to the future admiral. he was born on 23 april 1697, at shugborough manor. in february 1712, amid the war of the spanish succession, anson entered the navy at the age of 15. he served as a volunteer aboard the fourth-rate , before transferring to the third-rate .