English Captain: William Batten

William Batten served in the navy under Charles I, in the Parliamentarian navy, in the Royalist naval forces, and in the Restoration navy. We first know of him in 1625, when he commanded the Captain Salutation privateer. In 1628, he probably commanded the 6th Whelp. In 1638, he commanded the hired merchantman Confidence. In 1642, he flew his flag on the 2nd Rate St. George, as Vice-Admiral. From 1642 to 1643, he flew his flag on the 2nd Rate Rainbow as Vice-Admiral of the Summer Guard and the Winter Guard in 1642. Later in 1643, he flagship was the 2nd Rate St. Andrewas Vice-Admiral of the Summer Guard. In 1644, his flagship was the 2nd Rate Constant Reformation (46 guns) in the Summer Guard and Winter Guard. From 1645 to 1646, he was back in the St. Andrew, still as Vice-Admiral. He commanded as squadron of 11 ships and 2 ketches in the 1645 Summer Guard. He in fact was still in the St. Andrew in the Summer Guard of 1646. From 1646 to 1647, he flew his flag from the 3rd Rate Leopard. He was in the Winter Guard for 1646 in the Leopard. In 1647, he was back in the St. Andrew as Vice-Admiral of the Summer Guard. In 1648, he went over to the Royalists with his flag on the 4th Rate Constant Warwick as Rear-Admiral. After the Restoration in 1660, he became Surveyor of the Navy. Sources:

1. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.
2. J. R. Powell, The Navy in the English Civil War, 1962.