English Captain: Robert Nixon

Robert Nixon served in the Parliamentarian and Commonwealth navies. He first appears in command of the Humber ketch in the Summer Guard for 1647. He was in the Western Guard commanded by Rear-Admiral Richard Owen. In 1648, he commanded the 6th Rate Roebuck (14 guns) in the Summer Guard. From later in 1648 until 1649, he commanded the Hector (22 guns). From 1649 until 1651, he commanded the Fellowship (28 guns). In 1653, he commanded the 4th Rate Adventure. He definitely was with William Penn's squadron on March 30, 1653, in command of the Adventure (42 guns and a crew of 170 men). He also seems to have commanded the Adventure at the Battle of Portland, before that date. At the Battle of the Gabbard, he was in James Peacock's Division (Vice-Admiral of the Red). He was still in command of the Adventure at the Battle of Scheveningen, and on September 3, 1653. From late 1653 until 1655, he commanded the Centurion (42guns). In 1655, Robert Nixon was still in command of the Centurion, in the Mediterranean Sea, with Robert Blake's squadron. From 1656 until 1659, he commanded the 3rd Rate Worcester (50 guns). He seems to have not served in the Restoration navy. Sources:

1. R. C. Anderson, "English Flet-Lists in the First Dutch War," The Mariner's Mirror Vol.XXIV, No.4, 1938.
2. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.
3. R. C. Anderson, Lists of Men of War 1650-1700: Part I English Ships 1649-1702, 2nd Edition, 1966.
4. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.VI, 1930.
5. J. R. Powell, Ed., The Letters of Robert Blake, 1937.
6. J. R. Powell, The Navy in the English Civil War, 1962.