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{{Other people}}
'''Admiral Sir Ralph Delaval''' (c.1641–c.1707) was an English naval admiral.
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
[[File:Three admirals.jpg|thumb|right|Delaval (right), together with [[Thomas Phillips (engineer)|Thomas Phillips]] (left) and [[John Benbow]] (centre).]]


He was a member of a junior branch of the [[Delaval|Delaval family]] of [[Seaton Delaval Hall|Seaton Delaval]], [[Northumberland]]. He was born at [[North Dissington]], [[Ponteland]], Northumberland which estate he ultimately inherited and sold to Edward Collingwood of Bykker in 1673.
[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] '''Sir Ralph Delaval''' ({{circa|1641}} – {{circa|1707}}) was an English [[Royal Navy]] officer. He was a member of a junior branch of the [[Delaval|Delaval family]] of [[Seaton Delaval Hall|Seaton Delaval]], [[Northumberland]]. Delaval was born at [[Dissington Hall]], [[Ponteland]], an estate he ultimately inherited and sold to Edward Collingwood of [[Byker]] in 1673. He enlisted in the navy at a young age and progressed under the patronage of the [[James II of England|Duke of York]] to become captain of the third-rate ship of the line [[HMS York (1654)|HMS ''York'']].


⚫
He was knighted and raised to [[Vice-Admiral of the Blue]] on the accession of [[William III of England]] and led the Blue Squadron in the rear division in the [[Battle of Beachy Head (1690)|Battle of Beachy Head]] against the [[French Navy]] on 10 July 1690. Delaval was promoted to [[Vice-admiral of the Red]] in 1692. At the [[battles of Barfleur and La Hogue]] on 9 May 1692, he personally commanded [[HMS Sovereign of the Seas|HMS ''Royal Sovereign'']] and was responsible for the destruction of the French flagship [[French ship Soleil Royal (1669)|''Soleil Royal'']] and two others at Cherbourg.<ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=La Hogue, Battle of |volume=16 |page=81 |first=David McDowall |last=Hannay|authorlink=David Hannay (historian)}}</ref> His ''Royal Sovereign'' log books, written from 1691 to 1693, are preserved in the archives of the [[New York Public Library]].
He joined the navy at a young age and progressed under the patronage of the [[Duke of York]], later [[James II of England|James II]], to become Captain of the third rater, ''York''.


⚫
In 1693, Delaval, along with [[Henry Killigrew (Royal Navy officer)|Henry Killigrew]] and [[Cloudesley Shovell]] replaced [[Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford]] as commander-in-chief.<ref>Roger, ''The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain 1649–1815,'' p. 153</ref><ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Shovel, Sir Cloudesley |volume=24 |page=1014}}</ref> However, in the summer the French isolated and inflicted severe damage [[Battle of Lagos (1693)|on the Smyrna convoy]] near [[Lagos, Portugal]], for which Delaval, Killigrew and Shovell were severely criticised. A censure motion was laid in the [[House of Commons of Great Britain|British House of Commons]] alleging 'notorious and treacherous mismanagement'.<ref name="Roger, 1815, p.154">Roger, ''The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain 1649–1815,'' p. 154</ref> William was forced to dismiss his naval advisor, the [[Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham|Earl of Nottingham]], and appointed Russell as the new commander-in-chief.<ref name="Roger, 1815, p.154"/> Shortly thereafter, Delaval was involved in intrigue at the royal court where he was regarded as a possible [[Jacobitism|Jacobite]] sympathiser and he lost his command. He retired to Northumberland, and died in 1707. Delaval is buried in [[Westminster Abbey]].
He was knighted and raised to [[Vice Admiral of the Blue]] on the accession of [[William III of England|William III]] and led the Blue Squadron in the rear division in the [[Battle of Beachy Head (1690)|Battle of Beachy Head]] against the French on [[10 July]] [[1690]].

⚫
He was promoted to [[Vice Admiral of the Red]] in 1692. At the [[Battles of Barfleur and La Hogue|Battle of La Hogue]] on [[9 May]] [[1692]], he personally commanded [[HMS Sovereign of the Seas|HMS ''Royal Sovereign'']] and was responsible for the destruction of the French flagship and two others at Cherbourg. His ''Royal Sovereign'' log books (1691-1693) are preserved in the archives of the [[New York Public Library]].

⚫
In 1693, Delaval, along with [[Vice Admiral Henry Killigrew|Henry Killigrew]] and [[Cloudesley Shovell]] replaced [[Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford|Edward Russell]] as commander-in-chief.<ref>Roger, ''The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain 1649–1815,'' p.153</ref> However, in the summer the French isolated and inflicted severe damage on the Smyrna convoy in the [[Mediterranean]] at the [[Battle of Lagos (1693)|Battle of Lagos]], for which Delaval, Killigrew and Shovell were severely criticised. A censure motion was laid in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] alleging 'notorious and treacherous mismanagement'.<ref>Roger, ''The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain 1649–1815,'' p.154</ref> William was forced to dismiss his naval advisor Secretary of State the [[Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham|Earl of Nottingham]], and appoint Russell as the new commander-in-chief.<ref>Roger, ''The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain 1649–1815,'' p.154</ref>

Shortly thereafter, Delaval was involved in intrigue at court where he was regarded as a possible [[Jacobitism|Jacobite]] sympathiser and he lost his command. He retired to Northumberland. He died in 1707 and was buried in [[Westminster Abbey]].


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


==References==
==References==
⚫
* Roger N.A.M. ''The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain 1649–1815,'' Penguin Group, (2006). {{ISBN|0-14-102690-1}}
* {{1911}}
⚫
* Roger N.A.M. ''The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain 1649–1815,'' Penguin Group, (2006). ISBN 0-141-02690-1
* ''Greys Debates in the House of Commons'' 1769 Volume 10
* ''Greys Debates in the House of Commons'' 1769 Volume 10


==External Links==
==External links==
* [http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/let5.htm Delavals account of the Battle of La Hogue]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070211092416/http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/let5.htm Delavals account of the Battle of La Hogue]

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Delaval, Ralph}}
[[Category:Royal Navy admirals]]
[[Category:Royal Navy admirals]]
[[Category:English admirals]]
[[Category:Lords of the Admiralty]]
[[Category:17th-century Royal Navy personnel]]
[[Category:People from Ponteland]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Northumberland]]
[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]

Latest revision as of 21:49, 8 February 2024

For other people named Ralph Delaval, see Ralph Delaval (disambiguation).

Delaval (right), together with Thomas Phillips (left) and John Benbow (centre).

Admiral Sir Ralph Delaval (c. 1641 – c. 1707) was an English Royal Navy officer. He was a member of a junior branch of the Delaval family of Seaton Delaval, Northumberland. Delaval was born at Dissington Hall, Ponteland, an estate he ultimately inherited and sold to Edward Collingwood of Byker in 1673. He enlisted in the navy at a young age and progressed under the patronage of the Duke of York to become captain of the third-rate ship of the line HMS York.

He was knighted and raised to Vice-Admiral of the Blue on the accession of William III of England and led the Blue Squadron in the rear division in the Battle of Beachy Head against the French Navy on 10 July 1690. Delaval was promoted to Vice-admiral of the Red in 1692. At the battles of Barfleur and La Hogue on 9 May 1692, he personally commanded HMS Royal Sovereign and was responsible for the destruction of the French flagship Soleil Royal and two others at Cherbourg.[1] His Royal Sovereign log books, written from 1691 to 1693, are preserved in the archives of the New York Public Library.

In 1693, Delaval, along with Henry Killigrew and Cloudesley Shovell replaced Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford as commander-in-chief.[2][3] However, in the summer the French isolated and inflicted severe damage on the Smyrna convoy near Lagos, Portugal, for which Delaval, Killigrew and Shovell were severely criticised. A censure motion was laid in the British House of Commons alleging 'notorious and treacherous mismanagement'.[4] William was forced to dismiss his naval advisor, the Earl of Nottingham, and appointed Russell as the new commander-in-chief.[4] Shortly thereafter, Delaval was involved in intrigue at the royal court where he was regarded as a possible Jacobite sympathiser and he lost his command. He retired to Northumberland, and died in 1707. Delaval is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Hannay, David McDowall (1911). "La Hogue, Battle of" . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 81.
  2. ^ Roger, The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain 1649–1815, p. 153
  3. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Shovel, Sir Cloudesley" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 1014.
  4. ^ a b Roger, The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain 1649–1815, p. 154

References[edit]

  • Roger N.A.M. The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain 1649–1815, Penguin Group, (2006). ISBN 0-14-102690-1
  • Greys Debates in the House of Commons 1769 Volume 10

External links[edit]

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