Jack Naseby

Jack Naseby (September 13th, 1694 - ) was born at Potheridge, near Great Torrington, in Devon. Second son of Sir William Naseby, a gentleman of a good Devon family but in straitened financial circumstances. The family name came from Jack's grandfather, a captain in Cromwell's Iron Sides who served at the Battle of Naseby and was bestowed the honor of Earl of Naseby after the Civil War. With the restoration, the family was forced to forfeit the earldom, yet were allowed to keep the last name and the title of Knights of the Shire. Thanks to the Old Nasebys' ties to Admiral Monk, they did not endure the suffering the persecution that other Parliamentarians suffered after King Charles II assumed the throne. The restoration was a hard time for the Naseby family. However, William Naseby was able to establish a thriving copper and tin business while his younger brother, Andrew, enlisted in the navy. Andrew rose through the ranks and served in the Dutch Wars as well as the War of the Grand Alliance against France. By the time the War of the Spanish Succession began, Sir Andrew Naseby found himself a Commodore of the Red, under the command of Admiral George Rooke. Under Rooke's command he partook in the Capture of Gibraltar in 1704, distinguishing himself in battle. At war's end he had achieved the rank of Rear Admiral of the Red, and given the title 1st Lord of Naseby.

In late May of 1703 Sir William died suddenly leaving widow Naseby and three young lads behind, Oliver, Jack, and Charles. Oliver went on to marry Jackie, daughter of the great Admiral George Monk's eldest son, who lived near the Naseby estate in Devonshire. Jack and Charles spent the summers between 1703 and 1707 with their uncle, serving aboard his ship during cruises in the Mediterranean as King's Letter boys. This time made a strong impression on both boys, and would begin a life long affair with the sea. Widow Naseby died in late September of 1707. By this time Oliver had married, inheriting the family's estate, he had settled to live a comfortable, albeit simple, life. A few day's after the burrial, then Sir Andrew Naseby, asked the young Jack what his aspirations were, Jack had replied, "to serve King and Country aboard a man-o-war sir." "Are you certain m'boy?" replied Sir Andrew, "you do know it isn't all glory." "I am certain sir" replied Jack.

Jack went on to serve alongside his uncle for the remainder of the War of the Spanish Succession, attaining the rank of Captain at war's end at the age of 20.

(More to follow)

Record of Achievement

 * January 15th 1722 - Enlisted in the Squadron
 * February 7th 1722 - Promoted to Master
 * March 26th 1722 - Appointed Chief of Naval Operations
 * April 2nd 1722 - Promoted to Esquire, awarded the Military Cross for actions at the Battle of Guanica, March 10th 1722
 * May 3rd 1722 - Promoted to Knight of the The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
 * June 9th 1722 - Took leave of the Squadron, put on half-pay, relieved as Chief of Naval Operations.
 * September 1st 1722 - Reported for active duty at Port Royal.

Commissions
Current Commands:


 * HMS Brazen, Lancer-class Sloop of War, 16 guns
 * HMS Orpheus, Trinidad-class 5th-Rate Frigate, 40 guns
 * HMS Splendid, Hercules-class Sleek Naval 5th-Rate Frigate, 40 guns
 * HMS Wager, Minerva-class Master-crafted Naval 5th-Rate Frigate, 44 guns
 * HMS Exeter, Reason-class 4th-Rate Ship of the Line, 52 guns
 * HMS Conqueror, Macedon-class 4th-Rate Ship of the Line, 54 guns
 * HMS Lenox, Valiant-class 3rd-Rate Ship of the Line, 62 guns
 * HMS Royal William, Prince-class 1st-Rate Ship of the Line, 100 guns

Earlier Commands:
 * HMS David, La Belle-class Sloop-of-War, 6 guns - Scuttled in 1721
 * HMS Torrington, Postillionen-class 6th-Rate Frigate, 24 guns - Scuttled in 1721
 * HMS Sophie, Athena-class 5th-Rate Frigate, 32 guns - Laid up at dry dock
 * HMS Swiftsure, Minerva-class 5th-Rate Frigate, 36 guns - Laid up at dry dock
 * HMS Renown, Mastercraft Raa-class 5th-Rate Frigate, 42 guns - Laid up at dry dock
 * HMS Speedwell, Mercy-class Naval 5th-Rate Frigate, 44 guns - Laid up at dry dock
 * HMS Rose, Tigre-class Mastercraft 5th-Rate Frigate, 42 guns - Laid up at dry dock
 * HMS Diamond, Capricieux-class Mastercraft 5th-Rate Frigate, 44 guns - Sunk
 * HMS Dauntless, Dauntless-class 5th-Rate Frigate, 54 guns - Laid up at dry dock

Notable action

 *  February 4th, 1722: Captain Naseby aboard HMS Speedwell, together with captains Roderick Morrow, Alexander Lias, Paul Melhuish, and Ray Reyman, formed a battle group of six heavy frigates. The St. George Squadron dispatched this force to Maracaibo in order to prepare the way for a British assault on the city. The battle group engaged in blockading the port as well as attacking three naval detachments and a resupply convoy from nearby Spanish bases.  Within an hour the group, with help from fellow British captains, had set the stage for a full scale British assault.
 * Aboard HMS Conqueror, Captain Naseby along with five other captains of the St. George Squadron, took part in the defense of Riding Rocks. AAR


 *  February 5th, 1722: In command of HMS Speedwell, Captain Naseby took part in a combat patrol off Jaqueme, keeping at bay French naval forces attempting to reinforce their assault on the port. Not long after this task was successfully completed Captain Naseby, along with Captains Ray Reyman, Paul Melhuish, Marcus Gross, and Kyle McAvoy, formed a battle group with orders to patrol the waters off Cayo de Marquis. AAR
 * At the helm of HMS Conqueror, Captain Naseby together with two other men-of-war from the St. George Squadron took part in the defense of Jaqueme. AAR


 *  February 6th, 1722: The St. George Squadron of the White was present in force at the Battle of Maracaibo. HMS Conqueror, Captain Jack Naseby's command, was part of the White Squadron commanded by Commodore Roderick Morrow.  AAR


 *  February 7th, 1722: HMS Conqueror, under Captain Jack Naseby's command, was ordered to Port-de-Paix and report to the fleet's Red Squadron for the upcoming port battle.  During the course of the battle, HMS Conqueror crossed the enemy line, engaged several warships sinking one French 3rd-rate and one 4th-rate.  However, despite this, the battle ended in a major British defeat, with the loss of 18 warships.  Captain Naseby was able to sail his command to the safety of the fort and engaged the enemy with cold steel and lead.


 *  March 5th, 1722: Commodore Jack Naseby, at the helm of HMS Conqueror, lead the White Squadron during the British victory at the Battle of Jaqueme. AAR


 *  March 8th, 1722: Commanded the HMS Conqueror at the battle of Bridgetown.
 * Commanded the HMS Conqueror at the battle of of West End. Accounted for two enemy vessels, sustained critical damage.


 *  March 9th, 1722: Commanded the HMS Conqueror at the battle of Bridgetown. Accounted for one enemy vessel, sustained critical damage.


 *  March 10th, 1722: Commanding the HMS Exeter, was present at the Battle of Guanica. During the ensuing engagement Mr. Naseby distinguished himself in combat, being awarded the Military Cross for his actions. AAR
 * Commanded the HMS Orpheus during a combat patrol as part of a hunter-killer group which engaged three Spanish warships and six Pirate vessels. Accounted for two enemy vessels sunk and took another in boarding action.


 *  March 11th, 1722: Undertook a combat patrol at the helm of HMS Orpheus as part of a hunter-killer group in the contested waters of the Caribbean. The battle group destroyed nine enemy vessels during the patrol. His vessel was the object of Pirate ire after this, and was actively hunted. She was attacked by the same group of pirates three times. Alone, she was able to escape twice, but received critical damage on the third encounter while attempting to aid another British frigate.


 *  March 12th, 1722: Served as Commodore of the Squadron of the Black while in command of the HMS Exeter at the battle of Puerto Cabezas.


 *  March 18th, 1722: Served as Commodore of the Squadron of the Black in command of the HMS Exeter at the battle of West End.


 *  March 24th, 1722: Commanded the HMS Conqueror at the battle of Cabo Raphael as part of the Squadron of the White.
 * Commanded the HMS Lenox at the battle of West End as part of the Squadron of the Black. Accounted for two enemy vessels.


 *  March 25th, 1722: Commanded the HMS Conqueror at the battle of Carlos Harbour as part of the Squadron of the White.


 *  March 26th, 1722: Aboard the HMS Speedwell Captain Jack Naseby took part in the offensive against the pirate port of Guanica. During this operation the battle-group she was part off was engaged by a far heavier counterpart.  HMS Speedwell suffered critical damage.


 *  March 28th, 1722: Commanded the HMS Speedwell at the Battle for Guanica as part of the Squadron of the Black. Accounted for four enemy vessels, suffered critical damage.


 *  March 31st, 1722: Commanded the HMS Lenox at the battle of Puerto del Principe as part of the Squadron of the White.


 *  April 1st, 1722: Commanded the HMS Lenox at the battle of Gibara as part of the Squadron of the White.


 *  April 5th, 1722: Served as Commodore of the Squadron of the White in command of the HMS Lenox at the battle of Maracaibo. Accounted for one enemy vessel.


 *  April 6th, 1722: Served as Commodore of the Squadron of the White in command of the HMS Lenox at the battle of Belle Isle.
 * Served as Commodore of the Squadron of the Black in command of the HMS Lenox at the battle of St. John's. Accounted for one enemy vessel.


 *  April 8th, 1722: Served as Vice-Admiral of the fleet in command of the HMS Lenox at the battle of Cayo de Marquis. Accounted for three enemy vessels. AAR


 *  April 14th, 1722: Commanded the HMS Conqueror at the battle of Bluefields as part of the Squadron of the White. Received critical damage.


 *  April 16th, 1722: Served as Admiral of the Fleet in command of the HMS Conqueror at the battle of Port of Spain as part of the Squadron of the White.


 *  April 19th, 1722: Commanded the HMS Conqueror at the battle of Spanish Town as part of the Squadron of the White. Received critical damage.


 *  April 21st, 1722: Served as Commodore of the Squadron of the Black in command of the HMS Royal William at the battle of Puerto Cabezas.


 *  April 27th, 1722: Commanded the HMS Conqueror in a combat patrol off Basseterre. Accounted for two enemy ships. AAR


 *  April 28th, 1722: Commanded the HMS Lenox at the battle of Matthew Town as part of the Squadron of the White.
 * Commanded the HMS Conqueror at the battle of Matthew Town as part of the Squadron of the White.