English Captain and Admiral: Sir Roger Strickland

Sir Roger Strickland served in the Restoration navy and into the new regime after 1688. In 1661, he was appointed as lieutenant of the 4th Rate Sapphire. In 1662, he served as the lieutenant of the Crown. In 1663, he was moved to the old 4th Rate Providence as lieutenant. After the outbreak of the second war, he became lieutenant of the hired merchantman "Hambrough Merchant" (more creative spelling). Later in 1665, he became the lieutenant of the 2nd Rate Rainbow. Finally, in 1666, he was appointed captain of the Sancta Maria. In 1668, he became captain of the 5th Rate Success. In 1669, he was appointed captain of the 4th Rate Kent. In 1671, he was moved to the Antelope. In 1672, he commanded first the Plymouth and then the 2nd Rate Henry. He fought in the Battle of Solebay, in command of the Plymouth (58 guns), where he was assigned to Sir Joseph Jordan's division. In 1674, the King appointed him as captain of the 4th Rate Dragon. On 5 November 1677, was appointed captain of the 4th Rate Centurion, and then was moved to the 3rd Rate Mary shortly after that, on 10 December 1677. On 1 April 1678, Sir Roger Strickland and Arthur Herbert (captain of the Rupert) captured an Algerine warship. The Rupert did most of the damage, and the arrival of the Mary simply caused the Algerine to strike her flag. In early 1679 (they called it 1678, as it was in January), Sir John Narborough appointed Sir Roger Strickland to command the 4th Rate Bristol. The date was 14 January. He was reappointed to command her by the King on 23 March 1685. Finally, on 14 June 1688, King James II appointed him to command the 3rd Rate Mary. One inflammatory act by the king was to appoint Sir Roger Strickland, as Catholic, to command the fleet. He was eventually demoted, but it was another reason for the coup. By late in the year, the Glorious Revolution occurred, and the new regime came to power. Sources:

1. William Laird Clowes, The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Present, Vol.II, 1898.
2. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.