John Narborough

Sir John Narborough (* 1640 ; † 1688 ) was the English naval commander in the 17th century, who excelled particularly during the Anglo-Dutch naval wars and in the fight against North African pirates. His ancestors came from an old English family line from Norfolk .

Life

He was appointed in 1664, and was promoted to lieutenant captain in 1666 for his bravery in the Second Anglo-Dutch naval war in June of that year. After the peace agreement, he was assigned a research mission to the South Seas . His ship left Deptford on November 26, 1669 and reached the Strait of Magellan in October of the following year, but was unable to reach the actual destination of his voyage until his return in June 1671. A report of his expedition appeared in London in 1694 under the title An Account of several late Voyages and Discoveries to the South and North .

During the third Anglo-Dutch War (1672–1674) Narborough was second captain on the ship Prince of the commanding admiral, and showed so much striking heroism in the sea ​​battle in the Solebay ( Southwold Bay ) in May 1672 that he became a knight a little later Bachelor was beaten and appointed rear admiral.

Destruction of 4 corsair ships in the port of Tripoli in January 1676, drawing by Willem van de Velde the Younger

In 1675 he was sent to fight the pirates of Tripoli , and through the courageous move to call gunboats into the port of Tripoli at night and set the ships there on fire, he was able to persuade Dey there to an agreement.

In 1680 he was appointed chief commissioner of the English fleet and held this office until his death in 1688. In his honor, the third largest island in the Galápagos Islands Narborough was named, which is better known today, however, under the name Fernandina .

literature

• Narborough, Sir John . In: Encyclopædia Britannica . 11th edition. tape 19 : Mun - Oddfellows . London 1911, p. 237 (English, full text [ Wikisource ]).