English Captain: Ralph Saunderson

Ralph Saunderson served in the Restoration navy. Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle appointed him as lieutenant of the 4th Rate Assistance in 1666. He was promoted to captain on 17 November 1667. In 1669, he was appointed as captain of the St. David. In 1670, he was appointed to command the East India Merchant. In 1671, he was given command of the Phoenix. In 1673, he was appointed as second Captain of the Sovereign by Prince Rupert. On 30 July 1674, the King appointed him as captain of the Portsmouth yacht. In 1676, he was appointed as captain of the Charles yacht. On 5 September 1677, he was appointed by the King to command the Charlotte yacht. The commissioners reappointed him as captain of the Charlotte yacht on 22 October 1681. On 31 August 1682, the commissioners appointed him to command the Fubbs yacht. The King reappointed him to command the Fubbs yacht on 27 March 1685. He obviously must have been a good yacht commander, given his string of commands. He died in 1699. Sources:

1. David Syrett, R. L. DiNardo, The Commissioned Sea Officers of the Royal Navy 1660-1815, 1994.
2. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.