Blake Robert

Blake, Robert, one of the greatest commanders that have served England, was born in 1598 at Bridgwater, Somersetshire, where his father was a wealthy merchant. From 1615 to 1622 young Blake, who had previously been educated at Bridgwater grammar school, was at Wadham College, Oxford, where he took his B.A. degree in 1617. Upon leaving Oxford he appears to have devoted himself to elegant pursuits and the life of a country gentleman, until, in 1640, he was elected member of Parliament for his native place. When the Civil war broke out he linked his fortunes with those of the Parliament, and, having raised a troop of dragoons, became in 1645 governor of Taunton. He was there beseiged by Lord Goring, but, amid great disadvantages and discouragements, defended the place until the siege was raised. He did not, however, agree with all the actions of the Republican party, and strongly disapproved of the execution of the king. Not until February, 1649, did he become associated with the service in which he was destined to gain undying renown. In that month he was appointed a commissioner of the navy, and soon afterwards he was sent with a force in pursuit of Prince Rupert's semi-piratical squadron. He shut the prince up in Kingsale harbour, and followed him closely when he broke the blockade. Rupert then took refuge in the Tagus, where the Portuguese afforded him protection in spite of Blake's remonstrances, whereupon Blake, in retaliation, attacked the home-coming Portuguese fleet from Brazil and took or destroyed 20 sail of it. Having carried home his prizes, he returned to pursue Rupert, whom he chased into Carthagena and thence into Malaga, where he fell upon him, destroyed three of his ships, and obliged the prince to retire to the court of Spain. Blake continued in the Mediterranean until 1651, making the flag feared and respected there, and taking many prizes. Upon his return he was appointed warden of the Cinque Ports. In 1652, just before the outbreak of war with Holland, which was then the most formidable naval power in the world, Blake was created admiral for nine months. Lying with but 20 ships in the Downs, he began the war by attacking Tromp, who came there with 45 sail and who refused to strike his flag to him. Being fortunately reinforced, he drove off the Dutch with a loss of two of their ships. This was on May 18. In July Blake met and took the whole Dutch fishery fleet and its convoy, and in September he chased De Witt and De Ruyter in running fight from the Kentish Knock into Goree, capturing or destroying several of their vessels. Blake went back to the Downs, where, in a short time, he found himself with only 40 ships. In this situation he was furiously attacked by 80 vessels under Tromp, and was, as might be expected, badly beaten. He lost 6 ships, but on the other hand he destroyed at least one of the enemy. His temerity in accepting battle on this unfortunate occasion must, upon the whole, be blamed; but it was Blake's sole tactical mistake of any importance, and, happily, the great leader was soon able to win a compensating advantage. By February, 1653, he had managed to increase his fleet to 80 sail. With Monk and Deane as his associated "Admirals and Generals at sea." he sighted Tromp. who had nearly 100 sail, and on February 18th defeated him, though not decisively, off Portland. Following up his success, he chased the Dutch to their coasts. In April, 1653, Cromwell, much apparently to Blake's disappointment, assumed supreme authority; but the admiral, who fully realised that, after all, the external troubles of his country were its more serious ones, had long since ceased to take an active part in politics. "It is not," he said, "the business of a seaman to mind state affairs, but to hinder foreigners from fooling us. Disturb not one another with domestic disputes, but remember that we are English and our enemies are foreigners; enemies which, let what party soever prevail, it is equally the interest of our country to humble and restrain." A very few days after Cromwell's assumption of power Blake again drove the Dutch into the Texel, and there blockaded them, until, hearing that Tromp was at sea with 120 ships, the admiral went in search of him. He found him on June 3rd, 1653, off the coast of Essex, and having fought him for two days, gained a considerable success, though not without the loss of Deane, who was killed by a cannon-shot. In the next year a new field was found for Blake's energies, in the Mediterranean, where Algiers was intimidated and Tunis forced into surrendering all English captives. In 1656, the admiral, there being war with Spain, cruised in the neighbourhood of Gibraltar; and in 1657, having heard of the presence of a Spanish treasure-fleet at Santa Cruz, Teneriffe, he went thither, and, in a manner which for conduct and gallantry has never been exceeded, not only silenced the numerous and heavily-armed batteries on shore, but also destroyed every one of the galleons. It was a glorious exploit, and it was a fitting close to a glorious career. Returning in his flagship, the St. George, Blake, whose devotion to his country's welfare had seriously undermined his health, died on Aug. 17th, 1657, as his fleet was triumphantly entering Plymouth Sound. His body was worthily buried in Henry VII.'s Chapel at Westminster; but, to the eternal disgrace of all concerned, it was, at the Restoration, taken up and thrown into a pit in St. Margaret's churchyard. Since then, however, no one has dared to attack his memory. He was one of the greatest and the bravest of Englishmen: he first made the English flag generally respected at sea; and in the whole of her history Britain has had no sea-captain of whom, in all respects, she can feel prouder. Indeed he is one of the very few great commanders whose characters appear to be without flaw.