David Quidnunc on 2 Apr 2003  •  Link

Stayner (d. 1662)

A naval commander, he distinguished himself in the First Dutch War (1652-54) and was rear-admiral of the fleet in early 1660, and on the voyage with Mountagu early that year.

Stayner was a friend and confidant of Mountagu, and in 1660 helped him in some electioneering in Dover.

He was knighted by both Cromwell and again by Charles II (a situation similar to Mountagu's brother-in-law, Henry Wright).

In 1662 he died in Lisbon.

David Quidnunc on 2 Apr 2003  •  Link

Source for the previous annotation:
Latham and Matthews edition of the diary, Vols. 10 (Companion) and 11 (Index)

Paul Brewster on 17 Apr 2003  •  Link

The Wheatley footnotes are as follows: "Sir Richard Stayner, knighted and made a Vice-Admiral by Cromwell, 1657, and after the Restoration sent to command at Tangier till the Governor arrived."

Wim van der Meij on 29 Nov 2005  •  Link

Warrington adds the following: "He was buried at Greenwich".

Bill on 10 May 2013  •  Link

STAYNER, Sir Richard,—was commander of a ship of war, during the protectorate, in 1655. In conjunction with a captain Smith he took a Dutch East India ship of eight hundred tons burthen, having on board four chests of silver. In 1656, with three frigates under his command (the Speaker, his own ship, the Bridgewater, and the Plymouth) he fell in with the Spanish flota, consisting of eight sail. Disproportionate as their numbers were, he hesitated not a moment to attack them: he did it with such gallantry and success, that, in a few hours, one of them was sunk, a second burnt, two were captured, and two driven on shore; so that of their whole fleet, two ships, or, as it is asserted by some, one only made its escape into Cadiz. The treasure alone captured on this occasion, amounted to six hundred thousand pounds sterling; so that captain Stayner returned to England not only crowned with glory, but loaded with wealth. In the following year he again sailed with the fleet, under the chief command of Blake, for the purpose of intercepting the Spanish West India fleet a second time. When they had cruised off Cadiz for some days, Blake received intelligence that the flota had taken shelter in the bay of Santa Cruz.
...
Strayner was immediately detached to begin the attack; and being soon after supported by Blake with the remainder of the fleet, the Spaniards were, in a few hours, driven out of their ships and breastworks.
...
Cromwell thought so highly of the conduct of captain Stayner, that he conferred on him the honour of knighthood. The destruction of the ships at Santa Cruz concludes the naval transactions of the protectorate; the death of Cromwell took place soon afterwards, and sir Richard Stayner had no further opportunity of exhibiting that gallantry for which he was, as has been already shewn, so remarkably distinguished. On the eve of the restoration, tired with the anarchy and confusion that had so long prevailed, and become a thorough convert to the principles of regal government, he again entered into service, being one of the commanders under Montague, (afterwards earl of Sandwich) who went with the fleet to receive Charles the Second. This service being effected, he received, from the hands of that sovereign, a legal knighthood, and was constituted rear-admiral of the fleet. He hoisted his flag, by appointment of the duke of York, lord high admiral, on board the Swiftsure. The following year he served in the same station, having removed his flag into the Mary.

---Biographia navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

Bill on 2 Feb 2014  •  Link

STAYNER, Sir RICHARD (d. 1662), admiral; commanded the Foresight in actions off Portland (February), at the Gabbard (June), and in battle of 29-31 July, 1653; Captured great part of Spanish West Indian treasure fleet off Cadiz, 1666; knighted for services in Blake's destruction of Spanish ships at Santa Cruz, 1657; rear-admiral of the fleet which brought Charles II to England, 1660; again knighted; died at Lisbon, vice-admiral of Mediterranean fleet.
---Dictionary of National Biography: Index and Epitome. S. Lee, 1906.