English Captain: Robert Robinson

Robert Robinson served in both the Commonwealth and Restoration navies and had a very distinguished career, although not as a flag officer. In 1653, he commanded the Dutch prize Plover (26 guns). He fought at the Battle of Portland in early 1653. From 1654 to 1655, he commanded the Greyhound. From 1655 to 1656, he commanded the Dartmouth. From 1656 to 1660, he commanded the Preston. In 1661, he was appointed to command the 4th Rate Ruby. In 1665, the Duke of Albemarle appointed him to command the 4th Rate Elizabeth. At the time of the Battle of Lowestoft, his ship was at Plymouth. In 1666, he commanded the Warspite (64 guns). At the date of the Four Days Battle, his brand new ship was still fitting out for service. He fought in the St. James's Day Battle, where he was assigned to Sir Joseph Jordan's division. In 1668, he was again in command of the Ruby. In 1670, he commanded the Greenwich. In 1672, he was again in command of the Warspite (66 guns). Robert Robinson fought at the Battle of Solebay, where he was assigned to Sir John Kempthorne's division. In late 1672 and early in 1673, he commanded the Monmouth, where he was involved with convoying. Later in 1673, he commanded the 4th Rate Diamond. In 1674, he commanded the Royal Oak. On 17 April 1676, he was appointed to command the 4th Rate Assurance. On 7 January 1678 (they called the year 1677, under the old system), he commanded the Harwich. On 3 January 1679, he was appointed to command the 4th Rate Foresight. Finally, on 13 May 1680, he commanded the 4th Rate Assistance. 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, Journals and Narratives of the Third Dutch War, 1946.

3. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.

4. Julian S. Corbett, “A Note on the Drawings in the Possession of The Earl of Dartmouth Illustrating The Battle of Solebay May 28, 1672 and The Battle of the Texel August 11, 1673”, 1908.

5. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.

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