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==Naval career==
Hailing from a family with considerable political connections, Eliot began his naval career in 1752 as a midshipman. In 1757 he joined the ''Augusta'' as a third lieutenant, where he served alongside first lieutenant [[George Johnstone]], who would also serve as become governor of British West Florida. Eliot later served on the sloops ''Viper'', ''Dreadnought'' and ''Hornet'', the latter as lieutenant.
In 1759, Eliot's sister Elizabeth married Charles Cocks of Eastnor, which connected their family to [[Wikipedia:George Anson, 1st Baron Anson|George Anson]], First Lord of the Admiralty. At the urging of Eliot's brother Edward, Anson soon arranged to have young John made captain of the sloop ''Hawke''.