English Captain: Peter Mootham

Peter Mootham served in both the Commonwealth and Restoration navies. In 1652, he commanded the Star (24 guns). He took part in the operation to the Sound in the fall of 1652, under the command of Andrew Ball. In 1653, he commanded the prize Bear, and then the Pelican (40 guns). At the Battle of the Gabbard, he was assigned to the Generals' division. He probably took part in the Battle of Scheveningen. From 1654 to 1660, he commanded the Foresight (42 guns). He sailed with Blake, in 1654, to the Mediterranean. He was left with the blockading squadron in front of Tunis in early 1655. In April, he took part in the attack at Porto Farina. He was with the ships sent back to England in September 1655. In March 1656, his was one of two ships sent to reconnoiter Cadiz. In April 1657, he took part in the attack at Teneriffe. On 9 July 1657, he set sail with Blake for England. The King continued Peter Mootham as captain of the Foresight, at the Restoration. In 1665, he commanded the Princess (52 guns). He was killed in action at the Four Days Battle in June 1666, where he was in Prince Rupert's division. Sources:

1. R. C. Anderson, "English Fleet-Lists in the First Dutch War," The Mariner's Mirror, Vol.XXIV No.4, October 1938.
2. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.
3. Michael Baumber, General-at-Sea, 1989.
4. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.
5. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.