English Captain: John Hart, Sr.

John Hart, Senior, served in the Restoration navy. In 1664, he was captain of the Bristol. In 1665, he was captain of the Revenge. On 21 October 1665, he he received his appointment as captain of the 2nd Rate Rainbow. He fought in Sir John Harman's rear division in the White Squadron. His ship became disabled and he had a narrow escape from capture. The Rainbow was repaired in time to fight in the St. James's Day Battle, where he was assigned to Sir Jeremy Smith's division in the Blue Squadron. In 1667, he commanded the hired ship Loyal Subject. This was from June until September. In early 1668, he commanded the 2nd Rate French Ruby. Later in 1668 and into 1669, he commanded the Portland. In late 1669 into 1670, he served under Sir Thomas Allin in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1671, he was captain of the Rupert. In 1672, he was back as captain of the Revenge (58 guns). He fought in the Battle of Solebay, where he was assigned to Sir John Harman's division in the Red Squadron. He died before 1688. Sources:

1. R. C. Anderson, The Journals of Sir Thomas Allin, Vol.I 1660-1666, 1939.
2. Julian S. Corbett, "A Note on the Drawings in the Possession of The Earl of Dartmouth Illustrating The Battle of Solebay May 28, 1672 and The Battle of the Texel August 11, 1673", 1908.
3. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.
4. Frank Fox, "Hired Men-of-War, 1664-7", Part II, The Mariner's Mirror Vol.84 No.2 (May 1998).
5. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.