English Captain: Francis Steward

Francis Steward served in both the Commonwealth and Restoration navies. R. C. Anderson confirms that he served both before and after the Restoration. In 1653, Francis Steward commanded the hired merchantman Sarah (34 guns). At the Battle of the Gabbard, he was assigned to Lionel Lane's division. He probably fought in the Battle of Scheveningen, as well. In 1665, the Duke of Albemarle appointed Francis Steward to command the Happy Entrance. At the time of the Battle of Lowestoft, the Happy Entrance was at Portsmouth, fitting out. Later in 1665, the Duke appointed him to command the Maria Sanctus (St. Maria). In 1666, he was appointed to command the Dutch prize Golden Phoenix (60 guns). Francis Steward fought in the Four Days Battle in the Golden Phoenix, where he was assigned to Richard Utber's divison. On 25 July 1666, he fought at the St. James's Day Battle, where he was assigned to Sir Jeremy Smith's division. 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. 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.