biography
| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1599–1657)
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| biography:
| English naval commander, born in Bridgwater, Somerset, SW England, UK. He studied at Oxford, and led the life of a quiet country gentleman until he was 40. Returned for Bridgwater in 1640 to the Short Parliament, he cast in his lot with the parliamentarians. In the Civil War his defence of Taunton (1644–5) against overwhelming odds proved a turning point in the war. Appointed admiral in 1649, he destroyed Prince Rupert's fleet and captured the Scilly Is and Jersey. In the first Dutch War (1652–4) he defeated Tromp at the Battle of Portland (1653) and shattered Dutch supremacy at sea. He destroyed the Barbary Coast pirate fleet off Tunis (1655), and destroyed a Spanish treasure fleet at Santa Cruz off Tenerife (1657). |
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