Difference between revisions of "Sir Clowdisley Shovell"

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-'''Sir Clowdisley Shovell''' (or Shovel), 1659-1707 was a British admiral. In a spectacularly eventful life he climbed from his role as a 6 year old cabin boy under a relative, Captain Myngs, in the Second Dutch War (1665-7) to attain the elevated rank of Admiral of the Mediterranean Fleet during the War of Spanish Succession (1702-13).
-He probably served at the Battle of Solebay during the Third Dutch War (1672-4), and by 1676 he was in the Mediterranean where commanded the fleet of ships’ boats during the operation to burn the corsair fleet in [[Tripoli]] Harbour. A year later he was promoted to post-captain. He was still only eighteen years old.
-Until 1686 he was continuously in action against the Barbary Pirates. But was in England during the [[Glorious Revolution]] of 1688, when he transferred his allegiance to William and Mary. He commanded a ship in the Battle of Bantry Bay (1692)  and was subsequently knighted, and given command of the English squadron in the [[Irish Sea]] during William’ invasion of [[Ireland]].
-By the end of the century he was Admiral of the Blue, in charge of the Channel fleet. The War of Spanish Succession found him in the [[Mediterranean]], where he distinguished himself in the capture of [[Gibraltar]] (still a British naval base) and  Barcelona,  and other engagements against the French. Shovel helped capture Gibraltar (1704), and assisted at the capture of [[Barcelona]] (1705)<ref> http://www.questia.com/library/encyclopedia/shovell_sir_clowdisley.jsp</ref>
-In 1707 his fleet sailed for [[England]] but encountered an unexpected current and several ships were wrecked on the [[Scilly Isles]]. Sir Clowdisley himself was washed ashore half drowned, where a local woman strangled him for the large ring he was wearing. (She was to admit this on her deathbed many years later, and the ring returned to his family).
-The tragedy ended a life that still had much to offer.
-Reference: “The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea”
-==References==
-<references/>
-[[Category: British History]]
-{{DEFAULTSORT:Shovell, Clowdisley}}

Difference between revisions of "Sir Clowdisley Shovell"

Revision as of 17:35, June 7, 2011

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