English Capain: Napthali Ball (Updated)

Napthali Ball served in the Restoration navy. At the Battle of Lowestoft, he commanded the fireship Bramble, which he had been appointed to command earlier in 1665. He attacked the Dutch 60-gun warship Hilversum. While the Hilversum's crew fought the fire, other English ships came up and captured the Hilversum. He was assigned to the Duke of York's divsion in the battle. William Laird Clowes says that he commanded the Success later in 1665 and was one of those captains who succeeded in taking prizes of "Dutch merchantmen and privateers". In June 1666, he commanded the 5th Rate Success, and was engaged in a mission on the Western Station with the Milford (and missed the Four Days Battle). On 25 July 1666, he was cruising in the Channel, and also missed the St. James's Day Battle. In 1667, he was appointed to command the Roe ketch. Later in 1667, he commanded the 4th Rate Assistance. In 1672, he was appointed to command the Richmond.By August 1672, he commanded the Greenwich (60 guns). He was assigned to Sir John Kempthorne's division. Sources:

1. R. C. Anderson, Journals and Narratives of the Third Dutch War, 1946.
2. William Laird Clowes, The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Present, Vol.II, 1898.
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.