English Captain: Michael Packe

Michael Packe served the Commonwealth navy until he was killed in 1652. In 1650, he commanded the Merchant Frigate, a hired merchantman. From 1651 until his death in 1652, he commanded the Amity (36 guns). At the beginning of the First Anglo-Dutch War, he had been with Sir George Ayscue at Barbadoes. Michael Packe had been a Rear-Admiral in Sir George Ayscue's fleet at the Battle of Plymouth. He had a leg injury that caused his leg to be amputated. He died a short time later. Upon his death, his brother Henry Packe was given command of the Amity. This sort of shift, of a relative taking command when a family member died was not unusual in both the English and Dutch navies. Henry Packe commanded the Amity until the Restoration. Sources:

1. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.
2. Michael Baumber, General-At-Sea, 1989.
3. J. R. Powell, Ed., The Letters of Robert Blake, 1937.