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Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal:'Robert Blake General at Sea'
Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal:'Robert Blake General at Sea'
Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal:'Robert Blake General at Sea'
Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal:'Robert Blake General at Sea'

Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal:'Robert Blake General at Sea'

Associated (Frogmore House, Windsor, England, 1900 - 1979)
Medallist
DateMay 2004
Object NameMedal
MediumSterling Silver
ClassificationsMedals
Dimensions44mm
AcquisitionPresented in 2004 by Dr Joan M Burrell.
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS072500.13
About MeBlake first made his name as a soldier on the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War (1642-1648). He defended Bristol against the Royalists and he captured and held Taunton. In 1649, when the land fighting had ended, he was made General-at-Sea, and was successful against the forces led by Prince Rupert, who was eventually driven from European waters.

In 1652, when war broke out against the Dutch, Blake fought actions against Tromp and de Ruyter, the leading Dutch admirals, but was worsted by Tromp off Dungeness. He was later engaged on Admiralty business in London and at Portsmouth, and in 1655, once more at sea, he destroyed a pirate fleet at Porto Farino in the Mediterranean.

After England and Spain became at war in 1656, Blake attacked and destroyed a Spanish West Indies fleet at Santa Cruz in Teneriffe. He died of fever on the voyage home, in August 1657.

He is considered to have been among the foremost naval tacticians. Clarendon, a political opponent, wrote of Blake in his great History of the Rebellion, that '. . . he was the first that infused that perfection of courage into the seamen by making them see by experience what mighty things they could do if they were resolved. Though he hath been very well imitated and followed, he was the first that gave the example of that kind of naval courage and bold and resolute achievements.'

The Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea, John Pinches Medallists Ltd.

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