Robert Blake (1598-1657)

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Robert Blake

NationalityBritish 
RolesNaval Sailor, Soldier 
Date of Birth8.1598ODNB
Baptism27.9.1598 - St Mary's church, Bridgwater, Somerset ODNB
First Known Service24.2.1648/49ODNB
FatherHumphrey Blake (d.1625)ref:845
MotherSarah Williams (d.1638)ref:845
Last Known Service7.8.1657ODNB
Date of Death17.8.1657 - On board the ResolutionODNB
Cause of DeathNaturalODNB
Burial4.9.1757 - Henry VII's chapel, Westminster Abbey ODNB

Event History


Date fromDate toEventSource
24.2.1648/49 General at SeaNRS076
18.4.164916.9.1649
Triumph (44) 1623-1688
British 44 Gun
2nd Rate Great Ship
, as Flag Officer, General at Sea, 		NRS076
22.5.164910.1649Commander-in-Chief at the Blockade of Kinsale 
22.5.164910.1649Blockade of Kinsale 
16.9.164916.10.1649
Lion (42) 1640-1658
British 42 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, as Flag Officer, General at Sea, 		NRS076
16.10.164911.1649
Guinea (30) 1649-1667
British 30 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
, as Flag Officer, General at Sea, 		NRS076
3.11.164912.1649
Nonsuch (34) 1646-1664
British 34 Gun
4th Rate Ship
, as Flag Officer, General at Sea, 		NRS076
1650 
Resolution (64) 1641-1661
British 64 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
1649 Renamed "Resolution"
1660 Renamed "Royal Prince"
, as Flag Officer, General at Sea, 		BWAS-1603
165010.1651
Phoenix (38) 1647-1664
British 38 Gun
4th Rate Frigate
, as Flag Officer, General at Sea, 		BWAS-1603
14.2.1649/501652Commander of the Fleet sent to Lisbon  
1.3.1649/50 
George (60) 1622-1697
British 60 Gun
2nd Rate Great Ship
1650 Renamed "George"
1660 Renamed "Saint George"
, as Flag Officer, General at Sea, 		NRS076
10.3.1649/5010.1650Commanded the Commonwealth Squadron at the Blockade of the Tagus 
1652 
Resolution (64) 1641-1661
British 64 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
1649 Renamed "Resolution"
1660 Renamed "Royal Prince"
, as Flag Officer, General at Sea, 		BWAS-1603
16526.1652
James (48) 1634-1682
British 48 Gun
2nd Rate Great Ship
1660 Renamed "Old James"
, as Flag Officer, General at Sea, 		BWAS-1603
16521653
Triumph (44) 1623-1688
British 44 Gun
2nd Rate Great Ship
, as Flag Officer, General at Sea, 		W014
4.3.1651/52 C.O.S. orders to Col. Robert Blake a "Commission to command the Parliament fleet for nine months, with the usual powers"SPD-1651-2
19.5.1652 Commanded the Main Squadron at the Battle of Dover 
12.7.1652 Commanded the English Fleet at the Action of 1652-07-12 
12.7.1652 Commander-in-Chief at the Action of 1652-07-12 
28.9.1652 Commanded the English Fleet at the Battle of Kentish Knock 
30.11.1652 Commanded the English Fleet at the Battle of Dungeness 
18.2.1652/5320.2.1652/53Commanded the English Fleet at the Battle of Portland 
2.6.16533.6.1653Commanded the The Red Squadron - Main Division at the Battle of the Gabbard 
2.6.16537.1653
Essex (56) 1653-1666
British 56 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, as Flag Officer, General at Sea, 		NRS041
31.7.1653 Battle of Scheveningen 
16541655
Swiftsure (64) 1653-1666
British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, as Flag Officer, General at Sea, 		BWAS-1603
16547.8.1657
George (52) 1622-1697
British 52 Gun
2nd Rate Great Ship
1650 Renamed "George"
1660 Renamed "Saint George"
, as Flag Officer, General at Sea, 		BWAS-1603
29.9.16548.1657Commander of the Fleet for the Mediterranean  
16551656Commander of the Mediterranean Fleet 1655  
4.4.1655 Commanded the English Fleet at the Battle of Porto Farina 
1656 
Naseby (80) 1655-1667
British 80 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
1660 Renamed "Royal Charles"
, as Flag Officer, General at Sea, 		TRN2
10.165612.1656
Swiftsure (64) 1653-1666
British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, as Flag Officer, General at Sea, 		BWAS-1603
20.4.1657 Commanded the English Fleet at the Battle of Santa Cruz 
20.4.1657 Commander-in-Chief at the Battle of Santa Cruz 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Brian on Friday 15th of January 2016 23:05

Robert Blake was born at Somersetshire in August 1598, his father being a merchant of that place. Of his earliest years we have no account; 1615 entered into the University of Oxford till 1623. In 1645 was the Governor of Taunton. In February 1648-9 he was made a Commissioner of the Navy. He was soon afterwards sent in pursuit of Prince Rupert whom he shut up in the harbour of Kingsale in Ireland. etc etc (very long story) Fatigue of the last 3 years, determined to return home, and dyed before he came to land. Was buried in Henry VII's chapel ---it is with regret that I am obliged to relate the treatment his body met a year after the restoration when it was taken up by express command and buried in a pit in St. Margaret's Churchyard

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