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Robert Blake (27 September 1598 – 7 August 1657) was an English naval officer who served as general at sea and the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports from 1656 to 1657. Blake served under Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War and Anglo-Spanish War, and as the commanding Admiral of the State's Navy during the First Anglo-Dutch War. Blake is recognised as the "chief founder of England's naval supremacy", a dominance subsequently inherited by the British Royal Navy well into the early 20th century.[2][3] Despite this, due to deliberate attempts to expunge the Parliamentarians from historical records following the Stuart Restoration, Blake's achievements tend to remain relatively unrecognised.[1][4] Blake's successes, however, are considered to have "never been excelled, not even by Nelson" according to one biographer,[5] while Blake is often compared with Nelson by others.[6][7][8]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Robert Blake was the first son of thirteen children born to Humphrey Blake and Sarah Williams.[9][10] He was baptised at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in Somerset on 27 September 1598.[11] He attended Bridgwater Grammar School for Boys, then went to Wadham College, Oxford. He had hoped to follow an academic career, but failed to secure a fellowship to Merton College, probably in consideration of his political and religious views, but also because the warden of Merton, Sir Henry Savile, had "an eccentric distaste for men of low stature". Blake, at five feet six inches (168 cm) tall, thus failed to meet Savile's 'standard of manly beauty'.[12]

When Blake's father died in 1625 he inherited the family estate of Knoll Hill. Here, taking on the responsibilities of the eldest son, he took committed much of his time in the duty of educating his many brothers and sisters, and preparing them for adulthood. Blake biographer and historian David Hannay (1853–1934) maintains that was a likely reason why Blake never married, while pointing out also that other biographers offer differing reasons.[13] English historian Edward Hyde,[a] who lived in Blake's day writes of Blake, "... he was well enough versed in books for a man who intended not to be of any profession, having sufficient of his own to maintain him in the plenty he affected, and having then no appearance of ambition to be a greater man than he was."[15]

The Blake family had a seat for several generations at (and were Lords of the Manor of) Tuxwell, in the parish of Bishops Lydeard, near Bridgwater, Somerset. The earliest member of the family located in records was Humphrey Blake, who lived in the reign of Henry VIII. Robert Blake's grandfather, also named Robert, was the first of the family to strike out on his own from country life as a merchant, hoping to become rich from Spanish trade. He served as chief magistrate and member of Parliament for Bridgwater several times, in recognition of the esteem in which the townspeople held him.[16] His son, Humphrey, succeeded him in business, and in addition to his father's estates at Puriton (of which he held the lordship), Catcot, Bawdrip and Woolavington, came into the estate at Plainsfield held by the family of his wife, Sarah Williams, since the reign of Henry VII.[17]

After his departure from university in 1625, it is believed that Blake was engaged in trade, and a Dutch writer subsequently claimed that he had lived for 'five or six years' in Schiedam.[18] Having returned to Bridgwater, probably because of the death of his mother in 1638, he decided to stand for election to Parliament.

Political background

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Coat of arms of Robert Blake

In April, 1640, Blake was elected as the Member of Parliament for Bridgwater in the Short Parliament, as one of two Burgesses for Bridgwater. When the English Civil War broke out during the period of the Long Parliament, and having failed to be re-elected in November, Blake began his military career on the side of the parliamentarians despite having no substantial experience of military or naval matters.[11]

Blake returned to Parliament as member for Taunton in 1645, when the Royalist Colonel Windham was expelled.[19] He would later return to recover from an injury sustained in the Battle of Portland. During that time he represented Bridgwater in the Barebone's Parliament of 1653 and First Protectorate Parliament of 1654 and Taunton in the Second Protectorate Parliament of 1656 before returning to sea.

[edit]

Blake is often referred to as the 'Father of the Royal Navy'. As well as being largely responsible for building the largest navy the country had ever known, from a few tens of ships to well over a hundred, he was also the first to keep a fleet at sea over the winter. Blake also produced the navy's first ever set of rules and regulations, The Laws of War and Ordinances of the Sea, the first version of which, containing 20 provisions, was passed by the House of Commons on 5 March 1649,[20] listing 39 offences and their punishments—mostly death.[21] The Instructions of the Admirals and Generals of the Fleet for Councils of War, issued in 1653 by Blake, George Monck, John Disbrowe and William Penn, also instituted the first naval courts-martial in the English navy.[5]

Blake developed new techniques to conduct blockades and landings; his Sailing Instructions and Fighting Instructions, which were major overhauls of naval tactics written while recovering from injury in 1653, were the foundation of English naval tactics in the Age of Sail. Blake's Fighting Instructions, issued by the generals at sea on 29 March 1653, are the first-known instructions to be written in any language to adopt the use of the single line ahead battle formation.[22] Blake was also the first to successfully attack despite fire from shore forts.[18]

English Civil War

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See also: English Civil War
Robert Blake
General at Sea, (1598–1657)

Before Blake embarked on a naval career he joined the New Model Army as a captain in Alexander Popham's regiment, Blake distinguished himself at the Siege of Bristol (July 1643) and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. After his leading role in holding Lyme Regis in the Siege of Lyme Regis (April 1644) he was promoted to colonel. He went on to hold the Parliamentary enclave of Taunton during the Siege of Taunton in 1645. Taunton was of great strategic importance as it was situated where all the main roads converged, commanding all lines of communication, which at the time Blake alone understood.[23] After he took it by surprise, the siege earned him national recognition; it was where he famously declared that he would eat three of his four pairs of boots before he would surrender. He subsequently succeeded in winning the Siege of Dunster (November 1645).[24][19]

In March 1649 the newly established Commonwealth government appointed Popham, Blake and Deane as Generals at Sea,[b] in that respective order of command, even though Blake had little experience at sea up until that time.[25] With Deane committed in Scotland, Blake's first naval commission was in 1649, as second in command of the Dutch Navy[26][2][27] against a domestic enemy with the objective of crushing the weary remnants of the Royalist party. King Charles I's followers were completely conquered and expelled from the mainland in England, but they still continued to fight on the sea and were taking many prizes, causing outcries from many of the merchants.[28] Parliament was thus compelled to establish a naval administration, which appointed Blake, Popham and Deane as commanders of a fleet they were putting together and outfitting.[29] Some three weeks before the execution of Charles I, on 11 January 1649, Prince Rupert of the Rhine led eight undermanned ships to Kinsale where the King's flag was still flying, in Ireland, in an attempt to prevent the Parliamentarians taking Ireland from the Royalists.[30][31] Blake blockaded Rupert's fleet in Kinsale from 22 May, allowing Oliver Cromwell, who placed great confidence in Blake, to land at Dublin on 15 August.[32] Blake was driven off by a storm in October and Rupert escaped via Spain to Lisbon.[33] When it was learned that Rupert had fled to Lisbon, all cautionary protocols were suspended for the navy. Blake was recalled to Plymouth to supervise the fitting out of a fleet that was expanded to thirteen ships.[34] With his refurbished and well supplied fleet, Blake put to sea in February 1650 and dropped anchor off Lisbon in an attempt to persuade the Portuguese king to expel Rupert. After two months the king decided to back Rupert. Blake was joined by another eight warships commanded by Edward Popham, who brought authority to go to war with Portugal.[35][36] Blake now bore the risk and responsibility of a prolonged blockade, where now neither food nor water were accessible from the shore, making it necessary to periodically dispatch ships to Vigo or Cádiz for supplies,[37] to which Richard Badiley was given the charge.[38]

Rupert twice failed to break the blockade, which was finally raised after Blake sailed for Cádiz with seven ships he had captured after a three-hour engagement with 23 ships of the Portuguese fleet (during which the Portuguese vice-admiral was also sunk.) Blake re-engaged with Rupert, now with six ships, on 3 November near Málaga, capturing one ship. Two days later Rupert's other ships in the area were driven ashore attempting to escape from Cartagena, securing Parliamentarian supremacy at sea, and the recognition of the Parliamentary government by many European states. Parliament voted Blake 1,000 pounds by way of thanks in February 1651. In June of the same year Blake captured the Isles of Scilly, the last outpost of the Royalist navy, for which he again received Parliament's thanks. Soon afterwards he was made a member of the Council of State.[39]

In 1651 Blake received orders to remove the Royalist Sir John Granville from the Isles of Scilly, where he had been appointed Governor by Charles II after a local rebellion. Granville had around 1,000 men under his command. The majority of Royalists forces were holding the main island of St Mary's, also defended by the guns of Star Castle and several frigates anchored, including the most powerful of the Royalist warships, making a direct assault very dangerous. Blake subsequently decided to secure Tresco and Bryher first, which would give the Commonwealth force a safe anchorage at New Grimsby harbour. After a failed attempt due to unfavourable winds, and other delays Blake finally prevailed and demanded Granville's surrender and ultimately secured the isles, also capturing many commanders and supplies[40][41]

First Anglo-Dutch War

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See also: First Anglo-Dutch War

Blake's next adventures were during the First Anglo-Dutch War (1652–1654). The war started prematurely with a skirmish between the Dutch fleet of Maarten Tromp and Blake on 29 May 1652, at the Battle of Dover.

On 19 May 1652, Tromp was patrolling in the English Channel with a fleet of forty ships between Nieuport and the mouth of the Meuse River, to provide protection Dutch merchant ships, while monitoring the activity of the English fleet who had been seizing Dutch merchant ships. Blake was lying in Dover Roads with fifteen ships, with eight others in reserve of the coast of Lincolnshire in The Downs.[42] When Tromp failed to lower his flag in salute, Blake, aboard his flagship the James, believing Tromp had just received orders from a Dutch dispatch ketch to commence battle, fired two warning shots, without ball. Subsequently, the Battle of Dover began when Tromp refused to strike his flag, but instead hoisted a red battle flag in defiance.[43] This caused Blake to fire a third gun, damaging Tromp's ship and wounding some crew members. Tromp in return fired a warning broadside from his flagship Brederode. Blake in turn fired a broadside and a five-hour battle ensued.[44] The fighting continued until nightfall, where both sides withdrew, the battle having no distinct victor.[45][46]

The proper war started in June with an English campaign against the Dutch East Indies, Baltic and fishing trades by Blake, in command of around 60 ships. On 5 October 1652 Dutch Vice-Admiral Witte Corneliszoon de With, underestimating the strength of the English, attempted to attack Blake, but due to the weather it was Blake who attacked on 8 October 1652 in the Battle of the Kentish Knock, sending de With back to the Netherlands in defeat. The English government seemed to think that the war was over and sent ships away to the Mediterranean. Blake had only 42 warships when he was attacked and decisively defeated by 88 Dutch ships under Tromp on 9 December 1652 in the Battle of Dungeness, losing control of the English Channel to the Dutch. Meanwhile, the ships sent away had also been defeated in the Battle of Leghorn. Following the navy's poor performance at Dungeness, Blake demanded that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty enact major reforms. They complied by, among other things, enacting Articles of War to reinforce the authority of an admiral over his captains.[47]

After the Battle of Dungeness in November 1652 the Dutch navy was in control of the English Channel through the winter of 1652–1653, allowing trade and commerce to once again resume. During this time, however, the English fleet had been refitted and reorganised, and by the beginning of February the English fleet numbered about eighty ships, which were promptly put into operation on 11 February under the joint command of the generals-at-sea Blake, Monck and Deane, setting the stage for the Battle of Portland. Blake's main objective was to intercept Lieutenant-Admiral Tromp, who was expected to escort a large merchant fleet from the Mediterranean to the Netherlands.[48] The English fleet was divided into three squadrons, the Red, Blue and White, each with its own vice- and rear-admirals which for the first time in British naval history established an ordered command hierarchy for the British Navy. Blake, aboard his flagship the Triumph, was in command of the red squadron, with Monck in command of the Blue and Penn in command of the white.[49] Blake was informed that Tromp's fleet was approaching and was no more than forty leagues to the west.[50] Tromp had the great responsibility of getting his merchant convey home to safety, but when he learned that Blake was waiting for him in the channel, and that his fleet of warships was about the same size as Blake's fleet, and with the weather gage in his favor, he decided to take the initiative and move on Blake's fleet, leaving his convoy of merchant ships about four miles up wind.[49]

While Blake's fleet had recently been outfitted with fresh supplies and ammunition, Tromp had been out at sea since November and was short of ammunition.[51][52] Knowing that Tromp's fleet and convoy of merchant ships had to pass his way to reach their destination, Blake was not compelled to go out searching for them. On 18 February the Dutch fleet of seventy-five ships came into Blake's view, but his squadrons had not yet grouped into their formations, having arrived there in haste at short notice. His red squadron was in position, but the White squadron was several miles to the east, while the Blue squadron was at some distance to the west, leaving Blake with about a dozen ships to face the entire Dutch fleet, which had the wind in their favor.[53] Tromp seized the advantageous opportunity and moved on Blake's lone squadron, and at eight in the morning a furious battle commenced. Subsequently, Blake's squadron endured heavy damage and casualties, with 100 lives lost on the Triumph, but the squadron was able to keep the Dutch fleet at bay.[54] While the battle raged furiously, Blake was severely wounded in his thigh, while his flag-captain Andrew Ball was killed.[51] Several hours would pass before Blake's other squadrons arrived at the scene. As Tromp's ships began to use up their supply of powder, they retreated from the engagement and headed for home, while the withdrawal of the remaining ships turned into a desperate flight for survival.[54] Thanks to its command of the sea, the fleet was able to supply Cromwell's army with provisions as it successfully marched on Scotland. By the end of 1652 the various English colonies in the Americas had also been secured.

At the Battle of the Gabbard on 12 and 13 June 1653 Blake reinforced the ships of Generals Richard Deane and George Monck and decisively defeated the Dutch fleet, sinking or capturing 17 ships without losing one. Now also the North Sea was brought under English control, and the Dutch fleet was blockaded in various ports until the Battle of Scheveningen, where Tromp was killed.[55]

Peace with the Dutch achieved, Blake sailed in October 1654 with 24 warships as commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean Fleet,[56] successfully deterring the Duke of Guise from conquering Naples. In 1656, the year before his death, Blake was appointed Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.[57]

Bay of Tunis

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Main article: Action of 14 April 1655

In April 1655 Blake was selected by Cromwell to sail into the Mediterranean again to extract compensation from the Duke of Tuscany, the Knights of Malta, and the piratical states of North Africa, that had been attacking English shipping. The Dey of Tunis was the only one who refused compensation, while also refusing to return captured British sailors held as slaves.[58][59] and further negotiations became futile. Blake, aboard his flagship George, at first, needing to replenish water and other supplies, withdrew his fleet to Trapani, leading the Dey to assume his fleet had retreated, and on 3 April 1655 he returned to Porto Farina. The following morning Blake, with fifteen ships, prepared for an attack on the castle and ships in the harbour which were protected by twenty cannon in the castle, along with other defensive works along the shore. During the assault Blake destroyed the two shore batteries and nine Algerian ships with continual cannon fire from Blake's ships, while the wind off the sea blew the intense smoke from the guns at the castle and into the town, obscuring the enemy's view. His crews boarded the ships docked in the harbour one at a time and set them ablaze, and within hours they were all reduced to scorched timber and ashes. With only twenty-five killed and forty wounded, it was the first time shore batteries had been neutralised without landing men ashore. Hoping that he had not exceeded his orders, Blake, upon submitting his report to Cromwell, found him most gracious and appreciative of his efforts.[59][60] At this time Blake received orders to proceed off Cadiz, and carry on hostilities against Spain, with the objective of intercepting the Plate ships and to intercept reinforcements intended for Spanish forces in the West Indies.[58][60]

Anglo-Spanish War

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Robert Blake's flagship, the George, at the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 1657, by Charles Dixon
See also: Anglo-Spanish War (1654–1660)

In February 1656 commercial rivalry with Spain was soon turned to war. In the Anglo-Spanish War Blake blockaded Cádiz, during which one of his captains, Richard Stayner, destroyed most of the Spanish plate fleet at the Battle of Cádiz. A galleon of treasure was captured, and the overall loss to Spain was estimated at £2 million. Blake maintained the blockade throughout the winter, the first time the fleet had stayed at sea over winter.

On 20 April 1657 Blake totally destroyed another armed merchant convoy, the Spanish West Indian fleet, in the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife—a port so well fortified that it was thought to be impregnable to attack from the sea[5]—for the loss of just one ship. With expert marksmanship Blake's artillery successfully laid waste to most of the fort and destroyed or reduced the Spanish fleet to ashes. Although the silver had already been landed, Blake's victory delayed its arrival at the royal treasury of the Spanish government and earned the new English Navy respect throughout Europe.[61] As a reward Blake was given an expensive diamond ring by Cromwell.[18] The action also earned him respect 140 years later from Lord Nelson who lost his arm there in a failed attack; in a letter written on 17 April 1797, to Admiral Sir John Jervis, Nelson wrote "I do not reckon myself equal to Blake", before going on to outline the plans for his own attack.[62][63]

Final days and legacy

[edit]
In the foreground is a statue of a man on a plinth above steps, with person sitting on them. In the background is a church tower. The picture is arranged so that the outstretched arm with a pointing finger of the figure appears to be touching the top of the tower.
Statue of Robert Blake in Bridgwater, Somerset (1998)

On 13 March 1655, Blake, still in active service while aboard the Naseby, made out his last will and testament. The first item, consisting of a paragraph, began with, "I bequeath my soul unto the hands of my most merciful Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ ...". He left the towns of Bridgwater and Taunton £100 each to be dispersed among the poor. He left his brother Humphrey his manor house, while leaving his other brothers considerable sums of money. Among other items bequeathed to other family members and friends, he left the gold chain that was awarded him by the Parliament to his nephew Robert, son of his deceased brother.[64]

After again cruising off Cadiz for a while, Blake, aboard his flagship George, turned for home, but on 7 August 1657 at ten o'clock in the morning he died of old wounds within sight of Plymouth where a hero's welcome was planned for him.[65][66][67] After lying in state in the Queen's House, Greenwich,[66] he was given a full state funeral moved to Westminster Abbey where the procession they were received by a military guard and saluted with salvoes of artillery before he was interred.[68] Present at the ceremony were Oliver Cromwell and the members of the Council of State (although his internal organs had earlier been buried at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth).[69] After the restoration of the monarchy his body was exhumed in 1661 and placed in a common grave in St Margaret's churchyard, adjoining the Abbey, on the orders of the new king, Charles II.[2][65][66]

In Westminster Abbey, a stone memorial of Blake, unveiled on 27 February 1945, can be found in the south choir aisle.[2] St Margaret's Church, where he was reburied, has a stained-glass window depicting his life, together with a brass plaque to his memory, unveiled on 18 December 1888.[2] A modern stone memorial to Blake and the other Parliamentarians reburied in the churchyard has been set into the external wall to the left of the main entrance of the church.[70]

Memorial marking the reburial of Robert Blake and other Parliamentarians outside St Margaret's, Westminster

In 1926 the house in Bridgwater, where it is believed that Blake was born, was purchased and turned into the Blake Museum,[71] where a room is devoted to him and his exploits.

Blake is one of four maritime figures depicted with a statue on the facade of Deptford Town Hall, in the London Borough of Lewisham.[72][73] Blake and his flagship Triumph are featured on a second class postage stamp issued in 1982.

In 2007 various events took place in Bridgwater, Somerset, from April to September to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the death of Blake. These included a civic ceremony on 8 July 2007 and a 17th-century market on 15 July 2007. In the Royal Navy a series of ships have carried the name HMS Blake in honour of the general at sea.

As noted by one of Blake's biographers, Blake was responsible for the "... birth of a real British Navy ... Hitherto, expeditions had been entrusted to Court favourites, whose main inspiration was not patriotism, but gain; now, patriotism, not profit, was to be its watchword; glory, not gold, its reward."[74]

In Literature

[edit]

Blake is the subject of a poetical illustration that recalls his exploits in Robert Blake, General and Admiral of the Parliamentary Forces. by Letitia Elizabeth Landon to an engraving by John Cochran after Briggs in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1837.[75]

Relatives

[edit]

Blake's brother, Benjamin Blake (1614–1689), served under Robert, emigrated to Carolina in 1682, and was the father of Joseph Blake, governor of South Carolina in 1694 and from 1696 to 1700.[citation needed]

Blake's brother Samual Blake fought under Popham before being killed in a duel in 1645.[citation needed]

A collateral relative was the historian Robert Blake, Baron Blake (1916–2003).[76][77]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "British Civil Wars, Commonwealth and Protectorate – Robert Blake 1599–1657". British-civil-wars.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e Westminster Abbey
  3. ^ BCW: Robert Blake, Essay
  4. ^ Bridgwater Blake Museum, 2016, Essay
  5. ^ a b c Yexley, 1911, p. 22
  6. ^ Dixon, 1852, pp. ix, xi
  7. ^ Hannay, 1886, pp. 1, 73, 188
  8. ^ Powell, 1972, p. 309
  9. ^ Dixon, 1852, p. 4
  10. ^ Evans, 2008, Bridgewater Town Council, Essay
  11. ^ a b Baumber, 2004, v. 6, p. 107
  12. ^ Dixon, 1852, pp. 12–13
  13. ^ Hannay, 1886, p. 6
  14. ^ See Edward Hyde article
  15. ^ Powell, 1972, p. 14
  16. ^ Member Biographies. "Blake, Robert (c. 1525–92), of Bridgwater and Tuxwell, Som.". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  17. ^ Dixon, 1852, pp. 3–5
  18. ^ a b c Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Blake, Robert" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  19. ^ a b Mirza, 1911, v. iv, p. 35
  20. ^ House of Commons Journal, 1802, pp. 154–157
  21. ^ Laws of War and ordinances of the sea National Library of Australia
  22. ^ Fighting Instructions, 1530–1816 Sir Julian Stafford Corbett, Publications of the Navy Records Society Vol. XXIX.
  23. ^ Laughton, 1886, p. 171
  24. ^ Blake Museum, Essay
  25. ^ Baumber, 2004, v. ix, p. 108
  26. ^ Hannay, 1886, p. 35
  27. ^ Baumber, 1989, p. 78
  28. ^ Hannay, 1886, p. 48
  29. ^ Hannay, 1886, p. 50
  30. ^ Clowes, 1897, v.2, p. 81
  31. ^ Hannay, 1886, p. 50
  32. ^ Baumber, 1989, pp. 75–76
  33. ^ Baumber, 1989, p. 79
  34. ^ Clowes, 1897, v.2, p. 122
  35. ^ Clowes, 1897, v.2, pp. 122–123
  36. ^ Gardiner, 1897, v. 1, p. 334
  37. ^ Gardiner, 1897, v. 1, p. 344
  38. ^ Spalding, 1899, p. 45
  39. ^ Mirza, 1911, p. 35–36
  40. ^ Dixon, 1874, pp. 121–122
  41. ^ BCW, Scilly Isles, Essay
  42. ^ Hannay, 1886, pp. 77–78
  43. ^ Lambert, 2008, p. 52
  44. ^ Dixon, 1852, pp. 191–192
  45. ^ Low, 1872, p. 36
  46. ^ Hyde, Edward, Earl of Clarendon, 1717, pp. 459–460
  47. ^ Capp, 1989, p. 219
  48. ^ Gardiner, 1897, v. II, pp. 156–157
  49. ^ a b Clowes, 1897, v. II, pp. 178–179
  50. ^ Gardiner, 1897, v. II, p. 157
  51. ^ a b Gardiner, 1897, v. II, p. 158
  52. ^ Capp, 1989, p. 81
  53. ^ Hannay, 1886, p. 103
  54. ^ a b Capp, 1989, pp. 80–81
  55. ^ Gardiner, 1897, v. 1, pp. 346–347
  56. ^ Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "Robert Blake (1598–1657)". threedecks.org. S. Harrison. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  57. ^ Dixon, 1852, p. 135
  58. ^ a b Mirza, 1911, p. 36
  59. ^ a b Plant, 2010: BCW, Essay
  60. ^ a b Laughton, 1907, p. 177
  61. ^ Robert Blake 1599–1657 Archived 18 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine David Plant, British-civil-wars.co.uk
  62. ^ Nelson, 1845
  63. ^ Southey, 1919, p. 92
  64. ^ Powell, 1972, pp. 312–314
  65. ^ a b Dixon, 1852, pp. 360–363
  66. ^ a b c Powell, 1972, p. 308
  67. ^ Capp, 1989, p. 99
  68. ^ Dixon, 1852, p. 364
  69. ^ General-at-Sea Robert Blake 1599–1657, Royal Navy
  70. ^ Oliver Cromwell Archived 16 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine Westminster Abbey
  71. ^ "History of the Blake Museum". Bridgwatermuseum.info. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  72. ^ McKenzie, Raymond (2001). Public sculpture of Glasgow. Liverpool University Press. ISBN 978-0-85323-937-6.
  73. ^ "London's Town Halls". Historic England. p. 148. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  74. ^ Yexley, 1911, p. 21
  75. ^ Landon, Letitia Elizabeth (1836). "poetical illustration". Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1837. Fisher, Son & Co. pp. 14–15.Landon, Letitia Elizabeth (1836). "picture". Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1837. Fisher, Son & Co.
  76. ^ Morgan, Kenneth O. "Blake, Robert Norman William, Baron Blake (1916–2003)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/92619.
  77. ^ "Lord Blake". The Independent. 25 September 2003. Retrieved 7 January 2019.

Bibliography

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Robert Blake (admiral)

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Robert Blake (baptized 27 September 1598 – 7 August 1657) was an English naval officer born in Bridgwater, Somerset, who transitioned from land-based command in the English Civil War to become General at Sea for the Commonwealth of England, where he commanded fleets with no prior maritime experience and established foundational practices for British sea power through disciplined operations and decisive engagements. Appointed General at Sea in 1649, Blake initially pursued Royalist Prince Rupert's squadron into the Mediterranean and secured its blockade in Portuguese ports, demonstrating innovative persistence by maintaining naval presence through winter conditions—a tactic that enhanced blockade effectiveness. His leadership during the (1652–1654) included victories at the Battles of Portland, the Gabbard, and , where he defeated prominent Dutch commanders such as , Witte de With, and , thereby weakening Dutch maritime dominance and affirming English naval capabilities. Later campaigns featured the destruction of Barbary corsair vessels at Porto Farina in 1655 and a daring inshore attack on the at in 1657, where Blake annihilated 16 ships and fortifications without losing a vessel, underscoring his tactical boldness and the navy's growing professionalism under his reforms, including the adoption of line-ahead formations in battle. Blake died of fever aboard his George in shortly after this triumph, and though initially honored with burial in , his remains were exhumed and reinterred in St Margaret's churchyard following the Restoration of the monarchy in 1661 due to his association with the republican regime.

Early Life

Birth and Family Background

Robert Blake was baptized on 27 September 1599 at in , , , with his precise birth date remaining undocumented but estimated in contemporary accounts to August of that year. He was the eldest surviving son among thirteen children born to Humphrey Blake, a prosperous merchant engaged in trade and shipping, and his wife Sarah Williams, daughter of a local landowner from Barrington. Humphrey Blake (c. 1567–1625) had inherited and expanded the family business after 1592, accumulating an estate valued at approximately £8,000 by his death, which reflected the Blakes' status as established Bridgwater merchants with ties to regional commerce. Sarah Williams outlived her husband, dying in 1638. The family's Calvinist leanings influenced their Puritan sympathies amid growing religious tensions, though Blake's immediate upbringing centered on the mercantile environment of Bridgwater, a port town facilitating trade with Ireland and beyond. One notable sibling was younger brother Benjamin Blake (1614–1689), who later served under Robert in naval campaigns before emigrating to Carolina in 1682.

Education and Early Influences

Blake attended the Bridgwater Free Grammar School for his initial education, where he received a classical grounding typical of the era's preparatory schooling for gentry and merchant sons. In 1615, at approximately age sixteen, he matriculated at St Alban Hall, Oxford, subsequently transferring to Wadham College, an institution known for its Puritan-leaning scholars and curriculum emphasizing theology, rhetoric, and moral philosophy. At , Blake immersed himself in studies that fostered a commitment to Protestant and toward royal absolutism, though he did not immediately pursue a clerical or academic career. He completed his degree in , amid a university environment shaped by Calvinist influences and debates over ecclesiastical authority under James I and Charles I. Post-graduation, Blake returned to to manage the family enterprises, which included coastal shipping, salt refining, and mercantile trade—activities that exposed him to economic grievances against royal monopolies and customs impositions, honing his practical acumen in and . These early experiences, combined with his merchant upbringing in a provincial reliant on parliamentary trade protections, cultivated Blake's alignment with reformist politics; by the 1630s, he had rejected offers of royal preferment, reflecting a deepening conviction in covenantal over divine-right , as evidenced by his later electoral support for Puritan MPs. The family's modest prosperity, built on Humphrey Blake's ventures rather than landownership, further oriented him toward self-reliant enterprise and resistance to centralized fiscal exactions, setting the stage for his transition to military service in 1642.

Political and Parliamentary Career

Entry into Politics

In April 1640, Blake was elected as one of the two burgesses representing in the convened by King Charles I to seek financial support for his policies. From a family of influential merchants in the town, Blake's selection reflected local opposition to the royal court's fiscal impositions, including , which had burdened Somerset's coastal trade. His Puritan convictions and republican sympathies aligned him with Parliament's resistance to perceived absolutist tendencies, though records indicate he made no recorded speeches during the assembly's brief three-week session. The dissolved without granting subsidies, leading to its replacement by the in November 1640; Blake unsuccessfully contested the Bridgwater seat in this election, marking the end of his initial parliamentary tenure. Contemporary accounts describe his discomfort with the ' deliberative constraints, preferring action over debate, which foreshadowed his subsequent pivot to military roles amid escalating tensions. This early political engagement solidified his commitment to the parliamentary faction, positioning him as a defender of Bridgwater when royalist forces advanced westward in 1642.

Role Leading to the Civil War

In April 1640, Blake was elected as one of the two burgesses representing in the , aligning himself with members opposed to King Charles I's policies of and arbitrary taxation. This assembly, summoned after an 11-year gap to secure funds for the against Scotland, demanded reforms such as the redress of grievances before granting supply, but was abruptly dissolved by the king on 5 May 1640 after failing to yield immediate financial concessions. Blake, though present, had limited opportunity to influence proceedings during the brief session. Seeking to sustain his political involvement amid rising tensions, Blake contested the election for the in November 1640 but failed to secure a seat for . His exclusion did not deter his commitment to the parliamentary opposition, rooted in Puritan convictions and republican principles formed during his education in the 1610s and 1620s. As the challenged royal prerogatives—through measures like the Triennial Act (1641), the abolition of , and impeachment of royal advisors—Blake supported the cause locally in , where Royalist sympathies were strong among gentry but urban centers like leaned toward reform. The irreconcilable breakdown came in early 1642, following I's attempted arrest of five MPs on 4 January and the Grand Remonstrance's affirmation of . Blake declared for as militias mobilized under the Militia Ordinance of March 1642, which empowered to appoint commanders bypassing royal commissions. Upon raising his standard at on 22 August 1642, signaling open war, Blake received command of a volunteer company tasked with fortifying and defending against anticipated incursions from the west. This early military role underscored his shift from legislative advocacy to armed resistance, leveraging local merchant networks and Puritan networks to bolster 's position in a region vital for western supply lines.

Military Service in the English Civil War

Land-Based Campaigns


Blake entered military service during the First English Civil War, initially commanding a company of Parliamentarian forces at the siege of Bristol in July 1643, where the city fell to Royalist forces under Prince Rupert after a month-long defense. Following this setback, he participated in defensive operations in Somerset, demonstrating resilience against superior Royalist numbers. In April 1644, Blake took command of the Parliamentarian garrison at , Dorset, organizing fortifications including earthworks and four forts to repel Prince Maurice's siege, which lasted from 20 April to 16 June. Despite heavy bombardment that damaged the Cobb harbor and town defenses, Blake's leadership, aided by local civilians including women who dug trenches and manned barricades, prevented a breach until relief forces arrived, earning him promotion to . This successful defense highlighted Blake's strategic acumen in leveraging terrain and civilian support against a force of approximately 4,000 . Blake then commanded the garrison at , , enduring three prolonged sieges from September 1644 to July 1645 against forces led by figures including Lord Goring, maintaining control of the town as the only major Parliamentarian stronghold in the region amid supply shortages and relentless assaults. His tactics emphasized repairs, raids, and morale sustenance, with the final relief by Sir Thomas Fairfax's on 8 July 1645 breaking the encirclement after nearly a year of isolation. Taunton's hold disrupted supply lines in the , contributing to Parliamentarian momentum. Subsequently, in November 1645, Blake led the of , a outpost in , capturing it after five months of and assaults, with the surrendering on 21 1646 due to starvation and isolation. This operation underscored his proficiency in siege warfare, securing Parliamentarian dominance in the area before his transition to naval command.

Blockade of Royalist Fleets

In early 1649, as Royalist naval forces under Prince Rupert continued to disrupt Parliamentary supply lines and support exiled royalists, the Rump Parliament created the post of General at Sea to professionalize the fleet, appointing Robert Blake alongside Richard Deane and Edward Popham to joint command. Blake, hoisting his flag on the 42-gun Triumph, departed Chatham in April 1649 with a squadron of approximately 12-15 ships, bound for the Irish coast to neutralize Rupert's privateering operations based in Kinsale harbor. This force targeted Rupert's squadron of about 10 vessels, including captured Parliamentary ships like the Constant Reformation and Swiftsure, which had evaded earlier pursuits and were preying on merchant traffic to fund the Royalist cause. Upon arrival off in late spring 1649, Blake established a tight of the harbor entrance, stationing his ships to prevent Rupert's exit while enduring harsh weather and supply challenges. The operation, sustained through the summer, immobilized the fleet and captured several prizes, diverting resources to Parliamentary coffers without direct battle. By securing Irish waters, Blake's facilitated Oliver Cromwell's unhindered landing of 12,000 troops at on 15 August 1649, a pivotal step in reconquering from Confederate and holdouts. Rupert attempted breakouts but was repelled; however, a severe in late October 1649 scattered Blake's squadron, enabling Rupert's escape southward to with most of his ships intact. Blake immediately pursued Rupert to the Tagus River at Lisbon, arriving in March 1650 and resuming the blockade despite Portuguese demands for neutrality, as Lisbon authorities sheltered the Royalists. Commanding a reduced force of around 10 ships, Blake interdicted river traffic, seizing nine outbound Portuguese merchantmen on 21 May 1650 in reprisal for supplies funneled to Rupert, and later capturing elements of the valuable Brazilian trade convoy. In July 1650, his squadron repelled a combined Portuguese-Rupert fleet numbering 44 vessels attempting to relieve the blockade, using aggressive close-quarters tactics to drive the enemy back into port without sustaining major losses. The prolonged standoff, lasting until September 1650, strained Blake's resources but crippled Royalist maritime capabilities; Rupert finally departed for the Mediterranean on 29 September, prompting Blake to lift the blockade and continue the chase. These actions marked Blake's emergence as a formidable naval strategist, emphasizing sustained pressure over decisive battle to erode enemy strength through attrition and economic denial, though they drew criticism for escalating tensions with neutral powers like Portugal. In November 1650, Blake pursued detached Royalist vessels to Cartagena, Spain, where his forces drove them ashore and burned several, further dismantling the remnants of Rupert's squadron. By effectively containing and pursuing the primary Royalist fleet, Blake contributed to the Commonwealth's consolidation of sea control, transitioning Parliamentary naval doctrine from ad hoc responses to systematic blockades.

Appointment and Initial Reforms

Following the execution of Charles I on 30 January 1649 and the formal establishment of the Commonwealth, the Rump Parliament prioritized securing the navy against Royalist remnants, including Prince Rupert's squadron operating as privateers from Irish ports. Robert Blake, then a colonel noted for his defense of Lyme Regis and Taunton during the Civil War but lacking naval experience, was appointed one of three Generals at Sea on 19 February 1649 by the Council of State, alongside Richard Deane and Edward Popham. This appointment reflected Parliament's trust in Blake's proven loyalty, discipline, and strategic acumen from land campaigns, despite the unconventional transfer to maritime command. Blake hoisted his flag aboard the Triumph at Chatham and departed in April 1649 to enforce a of Kinsale, Ireland, where Rupert's forces were harbored. The operation lasted 13 months, marking the first sustained winter blockade by an English fleet, as Blake refused to withdraw despite storms and supply challenges, thereby honing techniques for prolonged naval . Rupert escaped in October 1649 under cover of fog, but Blake's pursuit across the Atlantic to the Portuguese coast demonstrated emerging proficiency in fleet coordination and demonstrated the viability of extended sea operations. Amid these initial commands, Blake initiated reforms to address the navy's disorganization and low morale, inherited from royalist defections and irregular pay. He advocated for and contributed to the 1649 parliamentary act establishing early naval regulations, which laid groundwork for the Laws of War and Ordinances of the Sea, formalizing discipline, shipboard governance, and operational standards to prevent mutinies and enhance efficiency. By prioritizing regular wages and merit-based promotions, Blake improved and retention, transforming the fleet into a more professional force loyal to the . These measures, though rudimentary, foreshadowed systematic overhauls that bolstered England's naval capabilities in subsequent conflicts.

First Anglo-Dutch War Engagements

In May 1652, Blake, recently appointed as one of the Generals at Sea by the Commonwealth's , commanded a fleet of approximately 20 warships off Dover when he encountered a Dutch squadron under escorting a of from the Baltic. Blake demanded the Dutch salute the English as per a 1651 ordinance, but Tromp refused, leading to an exchange of fire on 19 May; the lasted several hours, resulting in two Dutch ships sunk and several damaged, while Blake's flagship James suffered heavy casualties but no losses. This clash, though tactically inconclusive, escalated tensions and contributed to the formal on 8 July 1652. By early 1653, Blake, alongside George Monck and Richard Deane, led an English fleet of about 80 ships tasked with intercepting Dutch merchant s; on 18 February (O.S.), they engaged Tromp's force of roughly 90 warships protecting over 150 merchant vessels off Portland Bill in the Three Days' Battle (28 February to 2 March N.S.). The English disrupted the Dutch , capturing or destroying several prizes and sinking at least five Dutch warships, but Tromp maneuvered to shield most merchants northward; English losses included one ship sunk and heavy damage, with Blake severely wounded by to the thigh on the final day, temporarily ceding command to Monck. The battle marked an English strategic success in denying the Dutch safe passage and demonstrated Blake's aggressive close-quarters tactics, though the Dutch retained operational initiative. Following repairs and amid ongoing blockade efforts, Blake reinforced Monck and Deane's squadron during the Battle of the Gabbard on 2-3 June 1653 (O.S.), where an English fleet of around 100 ships faced over 100 Dutch vessels under Tromp off the Dutch coast. Initially ashore due to illness, Blake joined on the second day aboard his flagship St. George, helping to repel Dutch attacks and enforce a line-of-battle formation that inflicted heavy casualties; the English captured 12 Dutch warships, sank several more, and forced Tromp's retreat, crippling Dutch naval cohesion without significant English losses beyond Deane's death from enemy fire. This victory, attributed partly to Blake's timely arrival and tactical discipline, shifted momentum toward England and presaged the war's end, though Blake's health issues limited his role in the subsequent .

Expedition to the Bay of Tunis

In late 1654, Robert Blake departed Plymouth on 8 October with a fleet of 24 warships to safeguard English commerce in the Mediterranean from Barbary corsair depredations, particularly those by the Regency of . His was the George (60 guns), with Vice-Admiral William Badiley aboard the Andrew (54 guns); the fleet included vessels such as the Plymouth (50 guns) under Captain Stayner and the Newcastle (40 guns) under Captain Cobham. Blake arrived off on 8 February 1655 and issued demands to the for compensation for seized English ships and goods, as well as the release of British captives held as slaves. The rejected these terms, citing a prior treaty with the late Charles I that exempted Tunisian corsairs from such obligations despite recent violations. After delays due to adverse weather and further negotiations, Blake returned to the Bay of on 18 March, renewing his ultimatum without success. On 4 April 1655, Blake launched an assault on the anchored Tunisian fleet at Porto Farina (modern Ghar El Melh), a fortified harbor protected by a mounting 20 guns and additional shore batteries. Dividing his force into two squadrons under Cobham and Badiley, Blake employed broadside fire to suppress the defenses while smaller boats conducted boarding actions under covering fire; an onshore wind generated smoke that concealed English movements and aided the attack, which commenced at dawn. The English destroyed or burned nine Tunisian warships without landing troops, silencing the batteries in a tactical innovation that marked the first successful harbor assault overcoming shore fortifications from seaward alone. English casualties totaled approximately 25 killed and 80 wounded, with no ships lost. Though the action demonstrated naval reach and deterred immediate Tunisian aggression, the Dey refused further concessions, prompting Blake to secure partial slave releases and reparations later at upon threat of similar force. The expedition underscored Blake's aggressive enforcement of maritime rights but highlighted limits against entrenched North African powers without sustained or land operations.

Anglo-Spanish War Operations

![Depiction of the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1657) by Charles Edward Dixon, showing HMS St George under Admiral Robert Blake]float-right Following the outbreak of the Anglo-Spanish War in 1655, Robert Blake was dispatched in late 1656 with a fleet to blockade the port of Cádiz, aiming to intercept Spanish convoys and treasure fleets returning from the Americas. His squadron, consisting of approximately 24 ships of the line and frigates, arrived off the Spanish coast in October 1656 and established a persistent blockade despite challenging winter conditions, including storms that damaged several vessels. During this period, Blake's forces captured merchant prizes and engaged in minor skirmishes with Spanish warships emerging from port, though the main plate fleet evaded immediate capture. In April 1657, intelligence reached Blake that the Fleet, laden with silver bullion valued at millions of pounds, had anchored in the heavily fortified harbor of in the under the protection of shore batteries and warships. On 20 April, Blake led a squadron of 15 major warships into the narrow, defended harbor entrance, initiating a fierce close-quarters battle against anchored galleons and positions. English ships under disciplined fire from Blake's flagship St George bombarded and boarded Spanish vessels, sinking or burning at least four large galleons—including the flagship —and damaging others, while suppressing defensive fire through precise counter-battery tactics. Although much of the treasure had been offloaded ashore prior to the attack, preventing its seizure, the raid inflicted significant material losses on the Spanish convoy and demonstrated the vulnerability of sheltered fleets to aggressive naval assault. The operation at Santa Cruz concluded with Blake's fleet withdrawing under covering fire after two hours of combat, having suffered moderate casualties and damage to several ships but no losses to capture. Blake then resumed blockade duties off until ill health forced his return to in June 1657, where he succumbed to and exhaustion en route. These actions disrupted Spanish maritime logistics and bolstered naval prestige, though they yielded limited strategic gains against Spain's overall imperial resources.

Personal Beliefs and Character

Puritan Faith and Moral Discipline

Robert Blake's adherence to Puritanism, a Calvinist movement emphasizing , personal piety, and moral rigor, shaped his worldview and commitment to the Parliamentary cause from the outset of the in 1642. Raised in a devout family in , , Blake received an education focused on the knowledge and fear of God under influences such as the sermons of Thomas Adams, which instilled in him a profound sense of divine sovereignty over human affairs. His faith viewed the Commonwealth's struggle against royalist forces as a providential mission, aligning political loyalty with religious conviction rather than mere opportunism. This religious outlook manifested in Blake's naval command through a rigorous enforcement of discipline that extended beyond tactical efficiency to embody Puritan ethical standards. Appointed a general at sea in 1649, he confronted a plagued by mutinies, desertions, and lax conduct inherited from prior royalist and early parliamentary mismanagement. Blake systematically restored order by purging disloyal elements, instituting regular drills, and maintaining fleet cohesion even through harsh winter blockades, such as the 1652-1653 vigil off Portland, where his persistence prevented enemy resupply. His correspondence reveals a sincere religiosity, frequently ascribing victories—like the 1652 Kentish Knock engagement—to God's providence rather than solely human strategy, as in his attribution of favorable winds to divine intervention. Blake's moral discipline emphasized sobriety and duty, reflecting broader Puritan reforms under the that curtailed vices such as excessive drinking and idleness among sailors. While primary accounts do not detail explicit bans on swearing or under his direct orders, his stern principles and the era's naval ordinances under Puritan oversight—promulgated by the —aligned with prohibitions against and gaming to foster a godly fleet capable of executing what he perceived as sacred duties. This approach not only quelled indiscipline but elevated the navy's effectiveness, transforming it into an instrument of national and providential purpose, though it demanded unyielding obedience from crews accustomed to looser Stuart-era practices.

Leadership Style and Criticisms

Blake's leadership was characterized by a rigorous imposition of discipline on the Commonwealth navy, transforming a fleet prone to indiscipline and profit-seeking into a professional force committed to state objectives. He prioritized improving sailors' pay and conditions to foster loyalty, while demanding absolute obedience and tolerating no dissent among captains, whom he welded into a cohesive unit through his unyielding will and professionalism. Despite lacking prior naval experience when appointed General at Sea in 1649, Blake rapidly mastered maritime command, enforcing a code of duty over personal gain and eradicating piratical tendencies that favored capturing merchant prizes over engaging warships. His approach emphasized resilience and aggression, drawing from his Civil War land campaigns, and he personally led from the flagship, inspiring adherence through example rather than flamboyance. This style yielded innovations in blockade tactics, such as maintaining fleets at sea through winter—unprecedented for English commanders—and organizing amphibious operations, as seen in the 1651 reduction of the . Blake's modesty and self-effacement, hallmarks of his Puritan character, underscored a dedication to the as a divine cause, eschewing personal glory for collective success; he remained unmarried and pursued no enrichment from his office. His correspondence reveals a driven, self-sufficient individual focused on duty, yet his understated demeanor made his inner traits elusive even to contemporaries. Criticisms of Blake's command were limited, often stemming from early setbacks or interpersonal frictions rather than systemic flaws. A notable defeat occurred at the Battle of Dungeness on 10 December 1652, where his outnumbered fleet succumbed to Dutch superiority under , prompting Blake to offer his resignation in accountability—though rejected it and initiated broader naval reforms. Some captains chafed under his overrides, as during the 1657 Santa Cruz raid, where he prioritized fleet destruction over lucrative prizes, potentially straining relations. His bulldog-like tenacity and puritanical rigor, while effective, contributed to a less charismatic image compared to predecessors like Drake, rendering him less popularly lionized; contemporaries noted initial reluctance among officers to confront enemies aggressively, a mindset Blake forcefully corrected. Overall, assessments highlight his triumphs as outweighing these challenges, with no evidence of incompetence or corruption.

Death and Legacy

Final Illness and Burial

Blake had been in declining health for months, weakened by the rigors of his Mediterranean campaigns, including the April 1657 attack on the Spanish silver fleet at , where exposure to harsh conditions and prior wounds from earlier battles contributed to his frailty. Aboard his George, as the fleet approached on 7 August 1657, he succumbed to a fever at approximately 10 a.m., just one hour before the ships could enter harbor. His body was immediately embalmed, with the entrails buried at St. Andrew's Church in Plymouth. The corpse was then conveyed by sea to , where it lay in state at Greenwich House before a grand procession along the Thames. On 4 September 1657, Blake was interred with full military honors in Henry VII's Chapel at , in a ceremony attended by , senior admirals, generals, and family members, reflecting his status as a pivotal naval commander. Following the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Parliament under Charles II ordered the disinterment of regicide-associated figures and prominent Parliamentarians. Blake's remains were exhumed from in September 1661 and reburied unceremoniously in a lime pit within St. Margaret's churchyard, alongside others like Cromwell's, as a symbolic repudiation of the regime.

Historical Assessments and Influence

Historians frequently rank Robert Blake among England's preeminent naval commanders, placing him alongside and Horatio Nelson due to his decisive victories and strategic contributions during the Commonwealth era. His career, spanning from 1649 to 1657, transformed the English fleet into a disciplined force capable of sustained operations, including the destruction of the at on April 30, 1657, where he eliminated all 16 galleons despite heavy resistance. Assessments highlight his role in defeating Dutch fleets in key engagements of the , such as the Battle of Portland on February 18, 1653, which secured English control over the Channel. Blake's tactical innovations profoundly shaped , particularly through the Fighting Instructions issued in 1653, which codified signals for fleet maneuvers and emphasized the line-ahead formation for delivering coordinated broadside fire, principles that influenced British doctrine into the age of sail. He pioneered persistent blockades, maintaining squadrons at sea through winter for the first time, as at Cádiz from October 1656 to April 1657, disrupting enemy commerce and forcing diplomatic concessions. These methods, combined with enhanced discipline—such as restricting flogging to grave offenses—elevated fleet professionalism and morale, enabling amphibious assaults like the capture of the in 1651. Blake's influence extended to establishing England's naval supremacy, providing the organizational foundation for a fleet that grew to over 200 vessels by the mid-18th century and underpinned commercial expansion. However, his legacy was partially obscured by the Restoration of 1660, which disinterred his Westminster Abbey burial and downplayed achievements, rendering him a "forgotten" figure despite contemporary acclaim as the era's premier admiral. Local commemoration persists, evidenced by his in , , erected in 1896 to honor his origins and defense of the town during the Civil War.

References

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