John Chicheley

Rear-Admiral

Sir John Chicheley
Sir John Chichley by Jacob Huysmans
Bornc. 1640
Died20 March 1691 (aged 50–51)
Allegiance Kingdom of England
Service / branch Royal Navy
Years of service1657–1691
RankRear Admiral
CommandsHMS Milford
HMS Bristol
HMS Phoenix
HMS Antelope
HMS Fairfax
HMS Rupert
Battles / warsFranco-Dutch War

Rear Admiral Sir John Chicheley (c. 1640 – 20 March 1691) was a Royal Navy officer. He commanded a squadron at the Battle of Schooneveld in June 1673 and the Battle of Texel in August 1673 during the Franco-Dutch War. He went on to be Commissioner of the Ordnance and then Senior Naval Lord. He was also a Member of Parliament.

Born the second son of Thomas Chicheley of Wimpole, Chicheley entered the Inner Temple to study the law in 1657.[1] Promoted to lieutenant in 1662 and to post-captain in 1663, he took command of the sixth-rate HMS Milford in August 1664, of the fourth-rate HMS Bristol in September 1664 and of the fourth-rate HMS Phoenix in December 1664.[2] He went on to command the fourth-rate HMS Antelope in October 1665, the third-rate HMS Fairfax in July 1666 and the third-rate HMS Rupert in August 1668.[2] He served as an envoy to the Spanish Netherlands in 1670[1] and then took command of the third-rate HMS Dreadnought in 1671.[2]

Promoted to rear admiral in 1672,[2] Chicheley commanded a squadron at the Battle of Schooneveld in June 1673 and the Battle of Texel in August 1673 during the Franco-Dutch War.[2] He was elected to the Parliament of England as MP for Newton, Lancashire from 1679 to 1681, 1685 to 1687 and 1689 to 1691.[1]

Chicheley joined the Board of Admiralty under Prince Rupert in September 1677[3] but stood down to become Commissioner of the Ordnance in May 1679.[3] He resigned as Commissioner of the Ordnance in January 1682 and returned to the Admiralty Board.[3] After advancement to Senior Naval Lord in January 1690,[4] he retired from the Board in June 1690.[3] Chicheley died suddenly on 20 March 1691 and was buried at St Giles in the Fields in London.[1]

Family

Lady Chicheley

Chicheley married Isabella, the daughter and coheiress of Sir John Lawson of Alresford, Essex, and the widow of Daniel Norton of Southwick, Hampshire. They had four sons (two of whom predeceased him) and two daughters.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "CHICHELEY, Sir John (c.1640-91), of Southampton Square, Bloomsbury, Mdx". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Sir John Chicheley (1641-1691)". Three Decks. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d "Sainty, JC, Lord High Admiral and Commissioners of the Admiralty 1660-1870, Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4: Admiralty Officials 1660-1870 (1975), pp. 18–31". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
  4. ^ Rodger, p. 34

Sources

Parliament of England
Preceded by Member for Newton
1679–1691
With: Andrew Fountaine
Peter Legh
Francis Cholmondeley
George Cholmondeley 		Succeeded by
Military offices
Preceded by Senior Naval Lord
January 1690–June 1690 		Succeeded by