Richard Le Neve (or Le Neeve)

Richard Le Neve served in the Restoration navy. In 1666, he was lieutenant of the Lion. Later in 1666, he was lieutenant of the Centurion. In 1668, he was lieutenant of the Yarmouth. In 1669, he was appointed as lieutenant of the Swallow. Finally, in 1671, he was promoted to captain and appointed to command the 4th Rate Phoenix (the Phoenix had been rated as a 5th Rate before 1672). Richard Le Neve fought in the Battle of Solebay in the Phoenix, where he had been ordered to help save the Royal James's crew, along with the Dartmouth. Later in 1672, he commanded the Plymouth. In late 1672 and early 1673, he was with a squadron operating near Spain and the base at Tangier. In 1673, Prince Rupert appointed him to command the 3rd Rate Edgar. He was killed in action with the Dutch at the Battle of the Texel on 11 August 1673. Sources:

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

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