English Captain: Robert Kirby

Robert Kirby served in both the Commonwealth and Restoration navies. Michael Baumber says that he was a captain and was wounded at the Battle of Portland, but we don't know what ship he commanded. From 1653 to 1654, he commanded the Dutch prize Sophia (Speaker's Prize). From 1655 to 1656, he commanded the old 4th Rate Providence. From 1656 until 1660, he commanded the 4th Rate Ruby. After the Restoration in 1660, he was continued in command of the Ruby. In 1661, he was appointed to command the small 4th Rate Constant Warwick. In 1664, he was appointed to command the Breda (46 guns). He fought at the Battle of Lowestoft, where he was assigned to the Duke of York's division. He was killed in the battle. Sources:

1. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.

2. Michael Baumber, General-at-Sea, 1989.

3. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.

4. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.