British Naval Figure. Born in Somerset, he first came to prominence as a Member of Parliament for his home town, and joined the Parliamentary side when the English Civil War broke out. He fought at four seiges in the West Country and, at the end of the War, was appointed General At Sea. His first major exploit was to chase Prince Rupert's Fleet from Ireland to the Portuguese coast, where he virtually demolished the Royalist warships. He also captured the Scilly Isles, last Royalist outpost in the country, and was made a member of the Council of State. When the first Anglo-Dutch War broke out, Blake was defeated at the Battle Of Goodwin Sands but rallied and finally defeated the Dutch forces. He later fought valiantly in the Anglo-Spanish War but died of old injuries as his ship returned to Britain. His viscera were buried in Plymouth, the rest of his remains returned to London and interred in Westminster Abbey. When Charles II was restored to the throne three years later, the bodies of Blake and many other Parliamentarians were disinterred and placed in a communal grave in nearby Saint Margaret's church.
British Naval Figure. Born in Somerset, he first came to prominence as a Member of Parliament for his home town, and joined the Parliamentary side when the English Civil War broke out. He fought at four seiges in the West Country and, at the end of the War, was appointed General At Sea. His first major exploit was to chase Prince Rupert's Fleet from Ireland to the Portuguese coast, where he virtually demolished the Royalist warships. He also captured the Scilly Isles, last Royalist outpost in the country, and was made a member of the Council of State. When the first Anglo-Dutch War broke out, Blake was defeated at the Battle Of Goodwin Sands but rallied and finally defeated the Dutch forces. He later fought valiantly in the Anglo-Spanish War but died of old injuries as his ship returned to Britain. His viscera were buried in Plymouth, the rest of his remains returned to London and interred in Westminster Abbey. When Charles II was restored to the throne three years later, the bodies of Blake and many other Parliamentarians were disinterred and placed in a communal grave in nearby Saint Margaret's church.
Bio by: Mark McManus
Advertisement
See more Blake memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
