English Captain: Thomas Heath

Thomas Heath served in the Commonwealth navy. He commanded the hired merchantman Brazil frigate from 1651 to 1653. He had been with Sir George Ayscue on the voyage to Barbadoes. At that point she carried 24 guns and had a crew of 70 men. He was probably at the Battle of Plymouth, with Ayscue, on 16 August 1652. He fought at the Battle of Portland in early 1653. By that time, the Brazil frigate carried 30 guns. He was in John Lawson's division at the Battle of the Gabbard. John Lawson was Admiral of the Blue. The Brazil frigate was paid off after the battle, as the owner wanted her for a commercial voyage. Sources:

1. R. C. Anderson, "English Fleet-Lists in the First Dutch War," The Mariner's Mirror, Vol.XXIV No.4, October 1938.
2. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.
3. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.