English Captain: Thomas Roome Coyle

Thomas Roome Coyle served in the Restoration navy. He was appointed as Lieutenant on the 4th Rate Bendish (42 guns)in 1664. In 1665, he became her captain. Later in 1665, he commanded the Guinea frigate. He commanded the Guinea (36 guns) at the battle at Bergen on 2 august 1665. He was with Sir Jeremy Smith at Tangier from December 1665 until March 1666, still in command of the Guinea. At the time of the Four Days Battle, he was at Portsmouth victualling the Guinea. In 1666, Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle appointed him to command the 4th Rate Dragon (40 guns). He commanded the Dragon at the St. James's Day Battle on 25 July 1666. Later in 1666, he was appointed as captain of the Montagu. In 1672, he was appointed as captain of the French Ruby (66 guns), a 2nd Rate. He commanded her at the Battle of Solebay, where he was assigned to Sir John Kempthorne's division. In August 1672, he was assigned to Richard Beach's division. On 17 December 1677, he was appointed by the King as captain of the 4th Rate Phoenix. On 12 April 1679, Vice-Admiral Herbert appointed him as captain of the Royal Oak. His predecessor had died from disease at Port Mahon on Minorca. On 29 July 1682, the commission appointed him as captain of the Spanish Merchant. On 11 June 1685, the King appointed him as captain of the Crown. Thomas Roome Coyle fought "the first important single ship action of the war" on May 12, 1689, while in command of the Nonsuch (42 guns). Thomas Roome Coyle was killed in the action, but he defeated two redoubtable foes, Jean Bart and the Chevalier de Forbin. The Frenchman were in small ships, so despite their eventual greatness, they were beaten in this action. Robert Sincock, the boatswain, took command after Thomas Roome Coyle died and by June 27, was promoted to captain of the Nonsuch. 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. 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.

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.