John Ashby (admiral)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Ashby was an officer of the Royal Navy
, who rose to the rank of Admiral. Ashby was the fourth son of Robert Ashby and his wife Alice, who was a sister of Sir Thomas Allin
. He grew up in Suffolk
where his father was involved in business.
in October that year.
. His second battle was also at Schooneveld, but this time in HMS Lion, serving in Prince Rupert's division of the Red Squadron. His third battle was the Battle of Texel
on 11 August 1673, where he fought again in HMS Lion.
From 1674 to 1679 he commanded four more ships in American waters, and played a part in numerous battles concerning the Virginian Revolution. From 1681 to 1684 he commanded escorting the Levant
trade. In May 1685 Ashby became the governor of Sandgate Castle
.
Sir John also commanded as she was mobilized to counter the rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth
followed by the guardship , and then , the latter in response to the threatened invasion by William of Orange
. Ashby was eventually convinced to command for William of Orange, as he was persuaded of the need to fight the 'popish oppression' of the current king, James II
. After William III was crowned, he knighted Ashby on-board his flagship
on 16 May 1689 and made him rear admiral of the Red Squadron
soon after. He also presented Ashby with a diamond watch.
Ashby served as vice-admiral of the red
, flying his flag on . His conduct was praised by Queen Mary
. After the battle he was named joint admiral of the fleet with Sir Richard Haddock
and Sir Henry Killigrew
.
At the battles of Battle of Barfleur
and La Hogue he commanded as Admiral of the Blue. He was called before the House of Commons of England
after Barfleur to give an account of why he had not done more to annihilate the French fleet. He was pardoned after he gained the support of Admiral Edward Russell
.
From 1690 until his death three years later Ashby served on the Navy Board
as controller of storekeepers' accounts. Ashby died on 12 June 1693 in Portsmouth
and was buried at Lowestoft
. In his will he left most of his possessions to his brother, and the rest to cousins and naval colleagues.
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 rose to the rank of Admiral. Ashby was the fourth son of Robert Ashby and his wife Alice, who was a sister of Sir Thomas Allin
Sir Thomas Allin, 1st Baronet
Sir Thomas Allin, 1st Baronet was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service in the English Civil War, and the Second and Third Anglo-Dutch Wars...
. He grew up in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
where his father was involved in business.
Early career
After Ashby entered the navy he was promoted quickly to lieutenant of from November 1665 to June 1666. He was subsequently a lieutenant aboard in 1668 before being promoted to first comment on the ketchKetch
A ketch is a sailing craft with two masts: a main mast, and a shorter mizzen mast abaft of the main mast, but forward of the rudder post. Both masts are rigged mainly fore-and-aft. From one to three jibs may be carried forward of the main mast when going to windward...
in October that year.
Later career
In June 1669 he was given command of , followed by HMS Rainbow between 1670-1672. Ashby then was given command of in January 1672 and remained there for only a year. Once aboard Pearl he fought his first battle at SchooneveldBattle 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...
. His second battle was also at Schooneveld, but this time in HMS Lion, serving in Prince Rupert's division of the Red Squadron. His third battle was the Battle of Texel
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, where he fought again in HMS Lion.
From 1674 to 1679 he commanded four more ships in American waters, and played a part in numerous battles concerning the Virginian Revolution. From 1681 to 1684 he commanded escorting the Levant
Levant
The Levant or ) is the geographic region and culture zone of the "eastern Mediterranean littoral between Anatolia and Egypt" . The Levant includes most of modern Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and sometimes parts of Turkey and Iraq, and corresponds roughly to the...
trade. In May 1685 Ashby became the governor of Sandgate Castle
Sandgate Castle
Sandgate Castle is a coastal castle at Sandgate near Folkestone in Kent. It was originally built as an artillery castle in 1539-1540 by Henry VIII of England as part of his chain of coastal defences in response to the threat of invasion. As these forts were devised by Henry VIII, they are known as...
.
Sir John also commanded as she was mobilized to counter the rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, 1st Duke of Buccleuch, KG, PC , was an English nobleman. Originally called James Crofts or James Fitzroy, he was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the eldest illegitimate son of Charles II and his mistress, Lucy Walter...
followed by the guardship , and then , the latter in response to the threatened invasion by William of Orange
William of Orange
William of Orange usually refers to either:*William the Silent, William I, , Prince of Orange, founder of the House Orange-Nassau and the Netherlands as a state...
. Ashby was eventually convinced to command for William of Orange, as he was persuaded of the need to fight the 'popish oppression' of the current king, James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
. After William III was crowned, he knighted Ashby on-board his flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
on 16 May 1689 and made him rear admiral of the Red Squadron
Rear Admiral (Royal Navy)
Rear Admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It is immediately superior to Commodore and is subordinate to Vice Admiral. It is a two-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7....
soon after. He also presented Ashby with a diamond watch.
Admiralty
In the battle of Beachy HeadBattle of Beachy Head (1690)
The Battle of Beachy Head was a naval engagement fought on 10 July 1690 during the Nine Years' War. The battle was the greatest French tactical naval victory over their English and Dutch opponents during the war...
Ashby served as vice-admiral of the red
Vice Admiral (Royal Navy)
Vice admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It equates to the NATO rank code OF-8 and is immediately superior to rear admiral and is subordinate to the full admiral rank.The Royal Navy has had vice admirals since at least the 16th century...
, flying his flag on . His conduct was praised by Queen Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
. After the battle he was named joint admiral of the fleet with Sir Richard Haddock
Richard Haddock
Sir Richard Haddock was an officer of the Royal Navy. He served during the Anglo-Dutch Wars, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral in August 1690.-Family and early life:...
and Sir Henry Killigrew
Henry Killigrew
Dr Henry Killigrew was the fifth and youngest son of Robert Killigrew and his wife Mary. He was the younger brother of the dramatist Thomas Killigrew, and became chaplain and almoner to the duke of York, and master of the Savoy after the Restoration.-Life:Henry was born in Hanworth on 11 February...
.
At the battles of Battle of Barfleur
Battle of Barfleur
This article deals in detail with the action on 19 May 1692. For an overview of the battle, its background and aftermath, see Battles of Barfleur and La Hogue...
and La Hogue he commanded as Admiral of the Blue. He was called before the House of Commons of England
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
after Barfleur to give an account of why he had not done more to annihilate the French fleet. He was pardoned after he gained the support of Admiral Edward Russell
Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford
Admiral of the Fleet Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford, PC was the First Lord of the Admiralty under King William III.-Naval career:...
.
From 1690 until his death three years later Ashby served on the Navy Board
Navy Board
The Navy Board is today the body responsible for the day-to-day running of the British Royal Navy. Its composition is identical to that of the Admiralty Board of the Defence Council of the United Kingdom, except that it does not include any of Her Majesty's Ministers.From 1546 to 1831, the Navy...
as controller of storekeepers' accounts. Ashby died on 12 June 1693 in Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
and was buried at Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
. In his will he left most of his possessions to his brother, and the rest to cousins and naval colleagues.