Edward Spragge
Encyclopedia
Sir Edward Spragge was an English admiral. His name was also written as Spragg or Sprague.
Spragge was a fiery, brilliantly accomplished Irish seaman who fought in many great actions after the restoration
of King Charles II
in 1660.
Spragge was an officer of the Royal Navy
who remained loyal to the Stuarts in the English Civil War
. When the royalist fleet had been dispersed in 1651, he began to work for the Dutch as a privateer
in the First Anglo-Dutch War
, which explains why some of his later colleagues had mixed feelings about him. He was very popular with the common sailors though because of his ebullient character; as Samuel Pepys
put it, "he was a merry man, singing a pleasant song pleasantly". After 1653, he became a pirate associating himself with the Flemish Collaert family, a group of Dunkirkers
that after the French conquest of Dunkirk in 1646, had likewise been forced to seek employment elsewhere. Spragge married the daughter of the famous privateer Jacob Collaert
. He often clashed with Commonwealth vessels when employed by the Spanish as a privateer in the Anglo-Spanish War (1654)
.
After the English Restoration
, Spragge was pardoned by Charles II and rewarded for his loyalty by being made captain of HMS Drake. Whenever Charles had need to send an envoy to the Spanish Netherlands, he often employed Spragge because of his good contacts there.
His first sea-fight with the Dutch was the Battle of Lowestoft
in 1665, after which he was knighted on board of HMS Royal Charles
for his gallant conduct as captain of the Lion
(52), under Prince Rupert of the Rhine
, who greatly favoured his career. Spragge was then given command of the Triumph
(72).
The next year he was rear-admiral of the Green Squadron, on the Dreadnought
(58), under Prince Rupert and fought only in the fourth day of the Four Days Battle
. He was vice-admiral of the Blue Squadron, subcommander of the rear, on the Victory
(82), under Jeremy Smith in the St. James's Day Battle
. Although an overall English victory, the English rear was defeated and routed by Lieutenant-Admiral Cornelis Tromp
. Spragge felt so humiliated by this course of events — also because he was publicly denounced as a coward for his conduct by his enemy Robert Holmes — that he became a personal enemy of Tromp, vowing to kill him. His attitude was also influenced by the rumour that Tromp had remarked that Spragge had in future better let his wife command his squadron, who no doubt were well qualified for it, given her background.
But Tromp was fired from the Dutch navy in August 1666. After the disaster of the Raid on the Medway
, where Spragge was present, but unable to organize efficient resistance against the Dutch raiders, England had to conclude peace with the United Provinces
and the Second Anglo-Dutch War
came to an end. Spragge was thus satirized by Andrew Marvell
for his failure to defend Sheerness fort:
In 1670 and 1671, Vice Admiral Sir Edward Spragge fought the Barbary pirates on the Revenge
. In the spring of 1671, he sailed with a fleet to Bougie Bay
, near Algiers
, where on 8 May, after a sharp fight, he burnt and destroyed ten corsair ships.
In 1672, the Third Anglo-Dutch War
broke out, which gave Spragge the chance to deal with his old rival Tromp. At this time, Rupert and Spragge became rivals, the latter becoming jealous for not having been appointed supreme commander. Spragge was in command of the Red Squadron on the London
in the Battle of Solebay
in 1672 and of the Blue Squadron on the new Prince Royal of 100 cannon in the double Battle of Schooneveld
of 1673. In these last Schooneveld
battles he sought out and fought Tromp, readmitted to the navy in 1673, with great fury, but without result.
Spragge publicly swore an oath in front of King Charles that the next time, he would either kill or capture his old enemy Tromp or die trying.
_-_nightly_battle_between_cornelis_tromp_and_eward_spragg_(willem_van_de_velde_ii,_1707).jpg)
In the fourth Battle of Texel
on 11 August 1673, Spragge and Tromp, commanding their respective rear divisions, again clashed repeatedly, each having their ships so damaged as to need to shift their flags to fresh ships twice. First the Prince Royal duelled the Gulden Leeuw; when the former ship was dismasted and half of her crew dead or wounded, Spragge shifted to HMS St George
and Tromp to the Comeetstar. On the second occasion, whilst passing from the St George to the Royal Charles, Spragge's sloop was hit by cannon fire, a cannonball passing through the hull of the St George hitting the boat. The Admiral was injured but perhaps died by drowning as his vessel sank, just before reaching the ropes of the St George to which it had been rowed back as quickly as possible. The sloop remained partially floating and the body of Spragge was recovered with the head and shoulders still out of the water and his arms so cramped around the wood that much force had to be applied to free them. Contemporaneous Dutch naval historian Gerard Brandt
wrote in his biography of Michiel de Ruyter
: "This was the sad ending of Knight Edward Spragge, bravest of all English Admirals, who was praised by his friends and enemies for his courage and honesty and commiserated from compassion".
On 1 February 1673, Spragge had been elected as a Member of Parliament for Dover
, but on 16 January 1674, it was resolved by Parliament that Spragge had failed to be elected because he had illegally influenced the election; he had in fact ordered an old and infirm pilot, who he knew intended to vote for his rival, aboard one of his ships, to prevent him from voting.
Spragge was buried in the North Choir Aisle of Westminster Abbey
, but without any memorial visible today. His grave had this inscription:
Edward Spragge was the cousin of the later admiral George Legge
.
Spragge was a fiery, brilliantly accomplished Irish seaman who fought in many great actions after the restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
of King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
in 1660.
Spragge was an officer of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
who remained loyal to the Stuarts in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. When the royalist fleet had been dispersed in 1651, he began to work for the Dutch as a privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
in the First Anglo-Dutch War
First Anglo-Dutch War
The First Anglo–Dutch War was the first of the four Anglo–Dutch Wars. It was fought entirely at sea between the navies of the Commonwealth of England and the United Provinces of the Netherlands. Caused by disputes over trade, the war began with English attacks on Dutch merchant shipping, but...
, which explains why some of his later colleagues had mixed feelings about him. He was very popular with the common sailors though because of his ebullient character; as Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys FRS, MP, JP, was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is now most famous for the diary he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man...
put it, "he was a merry man, singing a pleasant song pleasantly". After 1653, he became a pirate associating himself with the Flemish Collaert family, a group of Dunkirkers
Dunkirkers
During the Dutch Revolt the Dunkirkers or Dunkirk Privateers, were commerce raiders in the service of the Spanish Monarchy. They were also part of the Dunkirk fleet, which consequently was a part of the Spanish Monarchy's Flemish fleet ...
that after the French conquest of Dunkirk in 1646, had likewise been forced to seek employment elsewhere. Spragge married the daughter of the famous privateer Jacob Collaert
Jacob Collaert
Jacob Collaart or Collaert was a Flemish admiral who served as privateer and one of the Dunkirkers in Spanish Habsburg service during the Dutch Revolt....
. He often clashed with Commonwealth vessels when employed by the Spanish as a privateer in the Anglo-Spanish War (1654)
Anglo-Spanish War (1654)
The Anglo-Spanish War was a conflict between the English Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell and Spain, between 1654 and 1660. It was caused by commercial rivalry. Each side attacked the other's commercial and colonial interests in various ways such as privateering and naval expeditions. In 1655, an...
.
After the English Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
, Spragge was pardoned by Charles II and rewarded for his loyalty by being made captain of HMS Drake. Whenever Charles had need to send an envoy to the Spanish Netherlands, he often employed Spragge because of his good contacts there.
His first sea-fight with the Dutch was the Battle of Lowestoft
Battle of Lowestoft
The naval Battle of Lowestoft took place on 13 June 1665 during the Second Anglo-Dutch War.A fleet of more than a hundred ships of the United Provinces commanded by Lieutenant-Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam attacked an English fleet of equal size commanded by James Stuart, Duke of York forty...
in 1665, after which he was knighted on board of HMS Royal Charles
HMS Royal Charles (1655)
Royal Charles was an 80-gun first-rate three-decker ship of the line of the English Navy. She was originally called the Naseby, built by Peter Pett, and launched at Woolwich dockyard in 1655, for the navy of the Commonwealth of England, and named in honour of Oliver Cromwell's decisive 1645...
for his gallant conduct as captain of the Lion
HMS Lion (1557)
Golden Lion The 'HMS' prefix was not used until the middle of the Eighteenth Century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively was a ship of the English Royal Navy, launched in 1557. She was rebuilt for the first time in 1582.By the time of her second rebuild, in 1609, she was known as Lion...
(52), under Prince Rupert of the Rhine
Prince Rupert of the Rhine
Rupert, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, 1st Duke of Cumberland, 1st Earl of Holderness , commonly called Prince Rupert of the Rhine, KG, FRS was a noted soldier, admiral, scientist, sportsman, colonial governor and amateur artist during the 17th century...
, who greatly favoured his career. Spragge was then given command of the Triumph
HMS Triumph (1623)
HMS Triumph was a 42-gun great ship or second rate of the English Royal Navy, built by William Burrell at Deptford Royal Dockyard and launched in 1623. Like many major warships in the 17th century, she was modified at various times during her life, so that her dimensions and tonnage grew during her...
(72).
The next year he was rear-admiral of the Green Squadron, on the Dreadnought
HMS Dreadnought (1654)
Torrington was a 52-gun third-rate ship of the line, built under the 1652 Programme for the navy of the Commonwealth of England by Henry Johnson at Blackwall Yard, London, and launched in 1654. She was named for the Parliamentarian victory at the Battle of Torrington in 1646. After the Restoration...
(58), under Prince Rupert and fought only in the fourth day of the Four Days Battle
Four Days Battle
The Four Days Battle was a naval battle of the Second Anglo–Dutch War. Fought from 1 June to 4 June 1666 in the Julian or Old Style calendar then used in England off the Flemish and English coast, it remains one of the longest naval engagements in history.In June 1665 the English had soundly...
. He was vice-admiral of the Blue Squadron, subcommander of the rear, on the Victory
HMS Victory (1620)
HMS Victory was a 42-gun great ship of the English Royal Navy, built by Andrew Burrell at Deptford and launched in 1620. She was first commissioned in 1627 under Captain Thomas Kettleby for the abortive attack on La Rochelle...
(82), under Jeremy Smith in the St. James's Day Battle
St. James's Day Battle
The naval St James' Day Battle , the Battle of the North Foreland and the Battle of Orfordness) took place on 25 July 1666 — St James' day in the Julian calendar then in use in England , during the Second Anglo-Dutch War and was fought between fleets of England, commanded jointly by...
. Although an overall English victory, the English rear was defeated and routed by Lieutenant-Admiral Cornelis Tromp
Cornelis Tromp
Sir Cornelis Maartenszoon Tromp, 1st Baronet was a Dutch naval officer. He was the son of Lieutenant Admiral Maarten Tromp. He became Lieutenant Admiral General in the Dutch Navy and briefly Admiral General in the Danish Navy...
. Spragge felt so humiliated by this course of events — also because he was publicly denounced as a coward for his conduct by his enemy Robert Holmes — that he became a personal enemy of Tromp, vowing to kill him. His attitude was also influenced by the rumour that Tromp had remarked that Spragge had in future better let his wife command his squadron, who no doubt were well qualified for it, given her background.
But Tromp was fired from the Dutch navy in August 1666. After the disaster of the Raid on the Medway
Raid on the Medway
The Raid on the Medway, sometimes called the Battle of the Medway, Raid on Chatham or the Battle of Chatham, was a successful Dutch attack on the largest English naval ships, laid up in the dockyards of their main naval base Chatham, that took place in June 1667 during the Second Anglo-Dutch War...
, where Spragge was present, but unable to organize efficient resistance against the Dutch raiders, England had to conclude peace with the United Provinces
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
and the Second Anglo-Dutch War
Second Anglo-Dutch War
The Second Anglo–Dutch War was part of a series of four Anglo–Dutch Wars fought between the English and the Dutch in the 17th and 18th centuries for control over the seas and trade routes....
came to an end. Spragge was thus satirized by Andrew Marvell
Andrew Marvell
Andrew Marvell was an English metaphysical poet, Parliamentarian, and the son of a Church of England clergyman . As a metaphysical poet, he is associated with John Donne and George Herbert...
for his failure to defend Sheerness fort:
- Spragge there, though practised in the sea command,
- With panting heart lay like a fish on land
- And quickly judged the fort was not tenáble--
- Which, if a house, yet were not tenantáble--
- No man can sit there safe: the cannon pours
- Thorough the walls untight and bullet showers,
- The neighbourhood ill, and an unwholesome seat,
- So at the first salute resolves retreat,
- And swore that he would never more dwell there
- Until the city put it in repair.
- So he in front, his garrison in rear,
- March straight to Chatham to increase the fear.
In 1670 and 1671, Vice Admiral Sir Edward Spragge fought the Barbary pirates on the Revenge
HMS Revenge (1654)
Newbury was a 52-gun third rate frigate built for the navy of the Commonwealth of England at Limehouse, and launched in 1654. She was named for the Parliamentarian victories at the two battles of Newbury....
. In the spring of 1671, he sailed with a fleet to Bougie Bay
Béjaïa
Béjaïa, Vgaiet or Bejaya is a Mediterranean port city on the Gulf of Béjaïa in Algeria; it is the capital of Béjaïa Province, Kabylia. Under French rule, it was formerly known under various European names, such as Budschaja in German, Bugia in Italian, and Bougie...
, near Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, where on 8 May, after a sharp fight, he burnt and destroyed ten corsair ships.
In 1672, the Third Anglo-Dutch War
Third Anglo-Dutch War
The Third Anglo–Dutch War or Third Dutch War was a military conflict between England and the Dutch Republic lasting from 1672 to 1674. It was part of the larger Franco-Dutch War...
broke out, which gave Spragge the chance to deal with his old rival Tromp. At this time, Rupert and Spragge became rivals, the latter becoming jealous for not having been appointed supreme commander. Spragge was in command of the Red Squadron on the London
HMS London (1670)
HMS London was a 96-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Christopher Pett at Deptford Dockyard until his death in March 1668, and completed by Jonas Shish and launched in 1670....
in the Battle of Solebay
Battle of Solebay
The naval Battle of Solebay took place on 28 May Old Style, 7 June New Style 1672 and was the first naval battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War.-The battle:...
in 1672 and of the Blue Squadron on the new Prince Royal of 100 cannon in the double Battle of Schooneveld
Battle of Schooneveld
The Battles of Schooneveld were two naval battles of the Franco-Dutch War, fought off the coast of the Netherlands on 7 June and 14 June 1673 between an allied Anglo-French fleet commanded by Prince Rupert of the Rhine, and the fleet of the United Provinces, commanded by Michiel de Ruyter.The...
of 1673. In these last Schooneveld
Schooneveld
The Schooneveld is a shallow basin at the mouth of the Scheldt river, near the island of Walcheren, off the coast of the Netherlands. It runs parallel to the continental coast, narrowing from the southwest to the northeast, bounded by the irregular, shifting and very dangerous Raan shoal in the...
battles he sought out and fought Tromp, readmitted to the navy in 1673, with great fury, but without result.
Spragge publicly swore an oath in front of King Charles that the next time, he would either kill or capture his old enemy Tromp or die trying.
Battle of Texel
The naval Battle of Texel or Battle of Kijkduin took place on 21 August 1673 between the Dutch and the combined English and French fleets and was the last major battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War, which was itself part of the Franco-Dutch War , during which Louis XIV of France invaded the...
on 11 August 1673, Spragge and Tromp, commanding their respective rear divisions, again clashed repeatedly, each having their ships so damaged as to need to shift their flags to fresh ships twice. First the Prince Royal duelled the Gulden Leeuw; when the former ship was dismasted and half of her crew dead or wounded, Spragge shifted to HMS St George
HMS St George (1622)
HMS St George, sometimes written as HMS George, was a 42-gun great ship of the English Royal Navy, built by Andrew Burrell at Deptford and launched in 1622. By 1660 her armament had been increased to 56 guns....
and Tromp to the Comeetstar. On the second occasion, whilst passing from the St George to the Royal Charles, Spragge's sloop was hit by cannon fire, a cannonball passing through the hull of the St George hitting the boat. The Admiral was injured but perhaps died by drowning as his vessel sank, just before reaching the ropes of the St George to which it had been rowed back as quickly as possible. The sloop remained partially floating and the body of Spragge was recovered with the head and shoulders still out of the water and his arms so cramped around the wood that much force had to be applied to free them. Contemporaneous Dutch naval historian Gerard Brandt
Gerard Brandt
Gerard Brandt was a Dutch preacher, playwright, poet, church historian, biographer and naval historian...
wrote in his biography of Michiel de Ruyter
Michiel de Ruyter
Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter is the most famous and one of the most skilled admirals in Dutch history. De Ruyter is most famous for his role in the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the 17th century. He fought the English and French and scored several major victories against them, the best known probably...
: "This was the sad ending of Knight Edward Spragge, bravest of all English Admirals, who was praised by his friends and enemies for his courage and honesty and commiserated from compassion".
On 1 February 1673, Spragge had been elected as a Member of Parliament for Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
, but on 16 January 1674, it was resolved by Parliament that Spragge had failed to be elected because he had illegally influenced the election; he had in fact ordered an old and infirm pilot, who he knew intended to vote for his rival, aboard one of his ships, to prevent him from voting.
Spragge was buried in the North Choir Aisle of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
, but without any memorial visible today. His grave had this inscription:
- Sir Edward Spragge, Kt., a brave and valiant Sea Captain, who lost his life in a sea fight against the Hollanders, 1673
Edward Spragge was the cousin of the later admiral George Legge
George Legge, 1st Baron Dartmouth
Admiral George Legge, 1st Baron Dartmouth PC was an English naval commander who gave distinguished service to both Charles II and James II.-Biography:...
.