Michael Robinson on 23 Dec 2009  •  Link

Per L&M Companion:

(c. 1640 - 91), [A Cambridgeshire family settled in Wimpole since Henry IV's reign. Henry Chichele the 15th. century Archbishop of Canterbury was a member.]

Second son of Sir Thomas (1614-99), -- no friend of Sandwich -- was counted 'the best of the young seamen' by Coventry. He served with distinction in the war of 1665-7 and was knighted after his first campaign. He was Vice-Admiral of the squadron sent to the Mediterranean in 1670, and he flew his flag as rear admiral throughout most of the war of 1672-4. He was briefly a prisoner of war after the Battle of Sole Bay, 1672. He later served as a Commissioner on the Navy Board, 1675-80, the Admiralty, 1682-4 and 1689-90, and the Ordinance 1682-90. He was M.P. for Newton, March 1679-91, voted against exclusion and accepted the Glorious Revolution unwillingly.

Bill on 11 May 2013  •  Link

CHICHELY, Sir John.—We cannot be at a loss for the rank and quality of this gentleman's family, his name sufficiently declares him a descendant of the bishop Chichely, founder of All Souls College, Oxford. Having entered into the navy, he was appointed lieutenant of the Swiftsure; and, in the following year, was promoted to be commander of the Milford. In 1664 he was captain of the Bristol; and of the Antelope, a fourth rate, in 1665. His behaviour in the action between the duke of York and Opdam procured him to be promoted, in 1666, to the command of the Fairfax, a third rate, as successor to sir Christopher Myngs. We have not been able to learn how long he continued captain of this ship, but we find him appointed to the Rupert of sixty-four guns in 1668, and soon afterwards sent to the Mediterranean, his, being one of the ships put under the command of sir Thomas Allen for that service. On the return of sir Thomas to England, in 1670, and sir Edward Spragge becoming commander-in-chief on that station, sir John was appointed vice-admiral of his majesty's fleet in the Streights, nothing being a more common practice, at this time, in the navy, than that of giving officers local rank. In 1671 he removed into the Dreadnought, and being taken very ill at Majorca, was prevented from returning to England in company with sir Edward Spragge, who arrived in March; but following him as soon, as he was a little recovered, he was, on his arrival, appointed to command the Royal Catherine, of seventy-six guns. The fate of this ship, in the Solebay fight, is too singular to pass unnoticed. She had joined the fleet on the very eve of the action with a raw, undisciplined crew; and, from the confusion that must unavoidably reign on board, under such circumstances, in a condition totally unfit for immediate service; thus situated, she was, about ten o'clock, boarded, and taken possession of by the enemy. Her commander, sir John, and the principal officers, were shifted, and the crew put down, as is customary, below. But the Dutch having incautiously, or, perhaps, through necessity, left but a small number of men to take charge of her, the English discovering this to be the case, rose upon their enemy, and not only redeemed both themselves and the ship from captivity, but, in return, made prisoners of the Dutch, whose captives they had, themselves, the moment before, been. This being accomplished, they brought their ship safe into harbour. This accident was so far from being thought disgraceful to sir John, that, soon after his return, he was promoted to be rear-admiral of the red, and hoisted his flag on board the Royal Charles of eighty-two guns.
---Biographia navalis. J. Charnock, 1793.

Bill on 2 Jan 2014  •  Link

Sir John Chicheley was a rear-admiral under prince Rupert in the last Dutch war. When Sir Edward Spragge was like to be overpowered by the enemy, sir John, together with the prince, bore down to his assistance: but notwithstanding the efforts of his friends, and his own invincible courage, that great man had soon after the misfortune to lose his life. Sir John Chicheley was one of the commissioners of the admiralty, and member of parliament for Newton in Lancashire, in the reign of William III.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1779.

Bill on 21 May 2014  •  Link

CHICHELEY, Sir JOHN (d. 1691), rear-admiral; captain in the navy, 1663; knighted, 1666; served in Dutch war, 1665-6, in Mediterranean, 1668-71, and in Dutch war, 1672-3; rear-admiral, 1673; commissioner of the navy, 1675-80 ; commissioner of the admiralty, 1681-4 and 1689-90.
---Dictionary of National Biography: Index and Epitome. S. Lee, 1906.

San Diego Sarah on 12 Sep 2020  •  Link

One thing I like about Sir John Chicheley is that around 1667 he married Isabella Lawson Norton (d. 29 Nov. 1709), da. and coh. of Admiral Sir John Lawson of Alresford, Essex, and wid. of Daniel Norton of Southwick, Hants., and they went on to have 5 sons (2 d.v.p.) and 4 daughters. So Isabella was taken care of in the end. See https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…

Rear Adm. Sir John Chickeley had a stellar naval career, retired quite young in 1675, became a Member of Parliament in 1679, like Pepys continued to be true to James II, and then got discarded by William III.

He was not a strong MP under Charles II, but had a burst of energy under James II.

While he was a MP he did serve in other capacities:
Envoy, Spanish Netherlands 1670;
commr. for navy 1675-80,
commr. for ordnance 1679-82;
lord of Admiralty 1682-4 and 1689-90.

He continued to represent Newton until his death on 20 Mar. 1691 and was buried at St. Giles-in-the-Fields, the last of the family to sit in Parliament

His Parliamentary bio has a picture of his portrait as a young man.
https://www.historyofparliamenton…