English Captain: Lawrence Wright

Lawrence Wright served in the Restoration navy, and continued into the new regime, serving in the subsequent wars: the War of the English Succession, the War of the League of Augsburg, and the War of the Spanish Successsion. Andrew says that he served from 1665 until 1713, when he was an "extra commissioner" on the navy board. He had a long career as a lieutenant, before he was finally promoted to captain. He was appointed, in 1665, by the Duke of Albermarle, as lieutenant of the hired merchantman Baltimore. In 1666, he was lieutenant on the Royal Charles. In 1667, he was lieutenant on the Constant Warwick. In 1668, he was lieutenant on the Old James, the Victory, and the Sovereign. In 1670, he was appointed as lieutenant of the Newcastle. In 1672, he was lieutenant of the Mary and Prince. Later in 1672, he was appointed captain of the Nonsuch. In April 1673, he was with a squadron operating off the coast of Spain. On 28 January 1675, the King appointed him captain of the Phoenix. The next entry seems to have been misinterpreted. I would guess that instead of a 2, it was a 7 on the handwritten document. The entry probably should read that he was appointed to command the Antelope on 7 January 1677. On 27 March 1678, he was appointed second captain of the Charles. On 30 November 1678, he was appointed to command the guardship Unicorn at Chatham. On 27 May 1679, the commissioners appointed him to command the Reserve. Then on 19 June 1682, he was appointed to the Royal yacht Mary. On 29 July, he was switched to the John and Alexander. Then, just a short while later, on 8 August, he took command of the Algerine prize Golden Horse. On 27 April 1685, the King appointed him to command the Mary yacht, again. This time, he was in command for almost two years. Finally, on 6 March 1687, he was switched to the Foresight. Then on 12 Jujly 1687, he took command of the Assistance. In 1689 and 1690, he commanded the 3rd Rate Mary (62 guns). He sailed for Barbadoes in March 1690. He escorted as large convoy. Once there, he lead the attack to capture St. Kitts, then in French hands. They also took St. Eustatius, but had to leave St. Christopher due to sickness among the troops. Sources:

1. R. C. Anderson, Journals and Narratives of the Third Dutch War, 1946.

2. William Laird Clowes, The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Present, Vol.II, 1898.

3. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.