John Tyrrell (Oakley)
Encyclopedia
Captain John Tyrrell of Oakley, Buckinghamshire
, son of Sir Timothy Tyrrell and Dame Elizabeth, his wife, was made by Charles II of England
the Second Admiral in the East Indies
.
John Tyrrell served in the Restoration
navy, including a long period as a lieutenant. On 24 October 1665, he was appointed the lieutenant of the Third rate Resolution
. In 1672, he was appointed lieutenant of the Fourth rate Leopard
, becoming her temporary commander on 28 May 1673 following the death of her captain, Peter Bowen. In September 1674, the King appointed him lieutenant of the 4th Rate Dragon
. Finally, on 16 January 1678 (under the old system, they called it 1677), the King appointed him as captain of the Sixth rate Drake. On 3 April 1680, he was given command of the prize Orange Tree. On 13 April 1682, he was reappointed to command the Orange Tree. On 18 April, he was switched to the Mermaid. On 23 February 1684 (again, they called it 1683), he was appointed to command the Oxford
. On 1 June 1684, the King appointed John Tyrrell to command the Phoenix of 42 guns. On 19 September 1685, he caught and sank a "Zanganian" pirate ship in an action notable for the boarding and survival of then Lieutenant John Byng
.
Then on 4 September 1688, he was appointed to command the Mordaunt
(46 guns). He took part in the action on 4 October 1689, when a group of English cruisers fell in with 12 French warships, and the 6th Rate Lively prize was lost. He commanded the Third rate Anne
(70 guns) when she was beached and burnt after the Battle of Beachy Head
in 30 June 1690, "where he withstood the violence of the whole French navy". He had been assigned to the rear (Blue) squadron. He fought at the Battle of Barfleur
, where he commanded the Second rate Ossory
(90 guns).
He died 6 December 1692, aged 46, and according to his memorial in Oakley he was a true lover of his country, a valiant and skilful Commander.
Oakley, Buckinghamshire
Oakley is a village and civil parish in Aylesbury Vale district in Buckinghamshire, England of about 400 households with a population of 1,059 people and an area of...
, son of Sir Timothy Tyrrell and Dame Elizabeth, his wife, was made by Charles II of England
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...
the Second Admiral in the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
.
John Tyrrell served in 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...
navy, including a long period as a lieutenant. On 24 October 1665, he was appointed the lieutenant of the Third rate Resolution
HMS Resolution (1654)
The ship which became the first HMS Resolution was a 50-gun Third rate frigate built under the 1652 Programme for the navy of the Commonwealth of England by Sir Phineas Pett at Ratcliffe, and launched in 1654 under the name Tredagh .After the...
. In 1672, he was appointed lieutenant of the Fourth rate Leopard
HMS Leopard (1659)
Leopard was a 44-gun fourth-rate frigate of the English Royal Navy, originally built for the navy of the Commonwealth of England at Deptford, and launched in February 1659. By 1666 her armament had been increased to 56 guns....
, becoming her temporary commander on 28 May 1673 following the death of her captain, Peter Bowen. In September 1674, the King appointed him lieutenant of the 4th Rate Dragon
HMS Dragon (1647)
HMS Dragon was a 38-gun fourth rate frigate of the Royal Navy, built at Chatham and launched in 1647. The term 'frigate' during the period of this ship referred to a method of construction, rather than a role which did not develop until the following century.Her first commission was in the Irish...
. Finally, on 16 January 1678 (under the old system, they called it 1677), the King appointed him as captain of the Sixth rate Drake. On 3 April 1680, he was given command of the prize Orange Tree. On 13 April 1682, he was reappointed to command the Orange Tree. On 18 April, he was switched to the Mermaid. On 23 February 1684 (again, they called it 1683), he was appointed to command the Oxford
HMS Oxford (1674)
HMS Oxford was a 54-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Francis Baylie in Bristol and launched in June 1674. Her guns comprised twenty-two 24-pounders on the lower deck, with twenty-two large sakers on the upper deck and ten smaller sakers on the quarter deck.On 23...
. On 1 June 1684, the King appointed John Tyrrell to command the Phoenix of 42 guns. On 19 September 1685, he caught and sank a "Zanganian" pirate ship in an action notable for the boarding and survival of then Lieutenant John Byng
John Byng
Admiral John Byng was a Royal Navy officer. After joining the navy at the age of thirteen he participated at the Battle of Cape Passaro in 1718. Over the next thirty years he built up a reputation as a solid naval officer and received promotion to Vice-Admiral in 1747...
.
Then on 4 September 1688, he was appointed to command the Mordaunt
HMS Mordaunt (1681)
HMS Mordaunt was a 46-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the English Royal Navy, launched at Deptford in 1681. She had been privately built, and was purchased into the navy in 1683...
(46 guns). He took part in the action on 4 October 1689, when a group of English cruisers fell in with 12 French warships, and the 6th Rate Lively prize was lost. He commanded the Third rate Anne
HMS Anne (1678)
HMS Anne was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the English Royal Navy, built by Phineas Pett II at Chatham Dockyard and launched in 1678....
(70 guns) when she was beached and burnt after the Battle of Beachy Head
Battle 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...
in 30 June 1690, "where he withstood the violence of the whole French navy". He had been assigned to the rear (Blue) squadron. He fought at the 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...
, where he commanded the Second rate Ossory
HMS Ossory (1682)
HMS Ossory was a 90-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched in 1682 at Portsmouth Dockyard. She was renamed HMS Prince in 1705....
(90 guns).
He died 6 December 1692, aged 46, and according to his memorial in Oakley he was a true lover of his country, a valiant and skilful Commander.