Admiral Sir Richard Haddock, Kt.

Sir Admiral, Knighted 1675, Commisioner of the Navy

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Haddock

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[edit] Family and early life

Haddock was born into a distinguished navy family. His grandfather, also Richard Haddock, had been rewarded by the government in 1652, having held commands under both Charles I and subsequently the Parliamentary regime; he commanded the Victory in 1642, the Antelope in 1643-44, the John in 1644 and the Unicorn in 1648. In 1652 he served as Vice-Admiral commanding the Vanguard.[1] His father, William Haddock, also commanded trading vessels, and was appointed on 14 March 1651 to command the America, a ship hired by the Commonwealth of England Navy.[1] He served in the First Anglo–Dutch War and saw action in 1653. For his services he was awarded a gold medal. William initially lived in Deptford, but subsequently moved to Kent.[1] He had a number of children, several of whom followed him into the navy, including his son Richard.[1]

[edit] Command

Haddock's ship, the Royal James, is burnt by Dutch fireships.Richard Haddock had command of HMS Dragon from 1656 to 1660, but was then unemployed until 1666 when he took command of the 50-gun HMS Portland on 14 June 1666.[2] During this period, he was given command of one of the companies involved in the attacks on Ulie and Schelling in August 1666. He relinquished command of the Portland on 9 November 1667.

Prior to the outbreak of the Third Anglo-Dutch War in 1672 Haddock became captain of the 100-gun HMS Royal James on 18 January of that year; he was her captain at the Battle of Solebay on 28 May.[2] The Royal James was the flagship of Admiral Sir Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich. The Royal James led the van of the Blue Squadron, and attacked Willem Joseph van Ghent's ship.[2] She was then engaged by a number of other Dutch warships and fireships. Despite fighting several of them off and forcing Rear-Admiral Jan van Brakel's ship to disengage, the Royal James was set on fire by the Dutch.[2] Haddock was wounded in the foot, and on seeing that the ship was doomed, attempted to persuade the Earl to abandon ship.[2] Montagu refused, and Haddock jumped overboard. He survived to be picked up and transferred to another English warship. Montagu was killed in the wreck.[2]

Haddock returned to London and attended a meeting with King Charles II. There the King bestowed a mark of favour on Haddock for his actions during the battle, taking a satin cap from his head and placing it upon Haddock's. The cap was kept in the family for many years, with a note describing

This satin cap was given by King Charles the second, in the year 1672, to Sir Richard Haddock, after the English battle with the Dutch, when he had been captain of the Royal James, under the command of the Earl of Sandwich, which ship was burnt, and Sir Richard had been wounded. Given him on his return to London.[2]

Haddock assumed command of the Third rate HMS Lion on 7 November 1672, and remained with her until the following 1 February. He was then given command on 2 February 1673 of the brand new First rate HMS Royal Charles, flagship of Prince Rupert of the Rhine.[2] He fought at the Battles of Schooneveld on 28 May and 4 June 1673 (Old Style; 7 June and 14 June New Style). Immediately following this second action, on 5 June 1673 he was switched to command HMS Royal Sovereign, but relinquished command of the Royal Sovereign on 30 June, and was quickly appointed to be an Extra Commissioner of the Navy on 18 August 1673. [2]

He was knighted on 3 July 1675.[2][3] Haddock was appointed Controller of the Navy on 2 February[ 1682, an appointment he retained until 17 April 1686. He also became commander of HMS Duke on 3 June 1682, but this last sea command only lasted 18 days, ending on 21 June.[4]

[edit] Political life and later offices

In 1683 he was appointed first Commissioner of the Victualling Office, a post he held until 1690. He entered politics in 1678, being elected to represent Aldeburgh.[5] He became the representative for New Shoreham in 1685, and just before the accession of King William III he again became Controller of the Navy on 12 October 1688, a post he held until his death on 29 January 1714.[5][6] He was appointed joint Commander-in-Chief of the fleet sent to Ireland in 1690, alongside Vice Admiral Henry Killigrew and Sir John Ashby.[5] They commanded the fleet from the third rate HMS Kent.[7] They remained in command until the winter when the fleet returned to Britain. They resigned their commissions and were replaced by Admiral Edward Russell. Haddock went into retirement from active service, dying in London on 26 January 1714 at the age of 85. He was buried at the family seat of Leigh on 6 February.[5]

[edit] Relations

One of the Commissioners of Victualling for the Royal Navy

Probably served with his father, as a Lieutenant of the Hannibal in 1653.

Commanded the "Dragon" frigate in the Downs and before Dunkirk, 1657-1658.

Commanded the "Supply" merchant ship, trading to the Mediterranean, 1661-1666.

Was appointed to command the king's ship "Portland" in August 1666, in which he took part in the attack on Vlie and Schelling. A few months later when the fleet was put out of commission he returned to the merchant service, and during the next five years commanded the "Bantam", of which he was part owner, in voyages to the Levant. In 1672 he was appointed captain of the "Royal James" carrying the flag of the Earl of Sandwich. Afterwards, he was appointed to command the "Lion" having with him, as lieutenant, his brother, Joseph, who had been purser of the Bantam.

In 1673 he was chosen by Prince Rupert as captain of his flagship, the "Royal Charles" and of the "Sovereign" after the action of 29 May. When the war came to an end he was nominated a commissioner of the navy. He was knighted on 3 July 1675, and in June 1682 was appointed captain of the "Duke" and commander-in-chief at the Nore. In 1683 he became first commissioner of victualling, and so remained until 1690, when, after the battle off Beachy Head he was appointed admiral and commander-in-chief of the fleet, jointly with Henry Killigrew and Sir John Ashby. On their return after the reduction of Cork and Kinsale, the joint admirals resigned their command to Admiral Russell, and Haddock was the appointed comptroller of the navy, which office he appears to have held until his death, on 26 Jan 1714-15. He was buried in the churchyard of Leigh, in the same grave as his grandfather, father, and other members of his family. A black marble slab records that he was aged 85.

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography - Vol. pp. 869, 870, & 871

Was Knighted on 3 July 1675

Comptroller of His Majesty's Navy 2 February 1682 - 2 February 1686 and 12 October 1688 till his death on 26 January 1714.

Was fist Commissioner of Victualing 1683 - 1690

King William III made him Lord Commissioner of the Navy in 1689

Was in command of the fleet in the Downs from Ireland, in charge of prisoners in 1690

Master of Trinity House

Member of King Charles II's 3rd Parliament which met on 6 March 1678 in Suffolk; representing Aldborough

Represented Shoreham at the House of Commons on 19 May 1685, in the first year of the Reign of King James II.

Military Ships Commanded:

"HMS Dragon" 1656 - 1660

"HMS Portland" 14 June 1666 - 9 November 1667

"HMS Royal James" 18 January 1672 - 28 May 1672 100 guns at Battle of Solebay 28 May 1672/73, which was the first battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War. He was shot in the foot during this battle.

"HMS Lion" 7 November 1672 - 1 February 1673

"HMS Royal Charles" 2 February 1673 - 5 June 1673

"HMS Sovereign" 5 June 1673 - 30 June 1673

"HMS Duke" 3 June 1682 - 21 June 1682

Battles:

Holmes's Bonfire

Battle of Solebay

Battle of Schoonevald

Battle of Texel

1 James 11. 1635 Sir Edward Hungerford, Sir Richard Haddock K.B. Knt. Sir Richard Haddock greatly distinguished himself in the Dutch Wars in the reign of Charles II. In the Battle of Solebay, 28th May, 1672, he was in command of the " Royal James," which was closely engaged and grappled by two of the enemy's ships. According to Haddock's own account, " about 12 o'clock, I was shot in the foot with a small shot, I supposed out of Van Ghent's maintop, which pressed me after a small time to go down to be dressed." Then describing how they got loose from the ships

that had grappled them, he concludes, " at that time the surgeon was cutting off the shattered flesh and tendons of my toe, and immediately after we were boarded by the fatal fire-ships that burnt us ." The " Royal James " blew up, only some half-dozen of her crew, among whom were Haddock and his lieutenant, Thomas Mayo, being saved. On his return to London, Haddock was presented to the King, who took off the cap he was wearing and placed it on the gallant commander's head. This cap was still preserved in the family at the end of the 18th century.

He saved himself by swimming untill a boat came from another ship.