Naval Leaders & Pioneers

One of England's greatest heroes, Sir Francis Drake ably served Queen Elizabeth I as a privateer and naval officer. In 1577-1580, Drake became only the second man to circumnavigate the globe, sacking Spanish towns and capturing ships along the way. Eight years after his return, Drake aided in leading the English to victory over the Spanish...

Sir Admiral Henry Morgan was an English privateer during the 1600s who led buccaneers in the Caribbean Sea. During his career he sacked several Spanish cities and is best known for his capture of Panama in 1671. Henry Morgan was knighted three years later and became Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica in 1675.

Born in 1607, Michiel de Ruyter rose to become one of the Netherlands' greatest admirals. Active during the Anglo-Dutch Wars, de Ruyter is best remembered for his daring raid on the Medway in 1667. Commanding the Dutch fleet at the Battle of Agosta in 1676, de Ruyter was mortally wounded and died a week later.

Born in Wales, Bartholomew Roberts became one of the most successful pirates of all time. Sailing the coasts of Africa, Brazil, North American, as well as in the Caribbean he captured over 470 ships in his brief two and half year career. Bartholomew Roberts was killed February 10, 1722, during a battle with HMS Swallow.

Blackbeard was feared pirate that operated from 1716-1718. Born Edward Teach, Blackbeard plundered ships along the American coast and blockaded the port of Charleston, SC. In 1718, Blackbeard was killed during a battle with the Royal Navy.

Admiral Edward Vernon was a noted commander in the Royal Navy during the 18th century. Edward Vernon earned fame for his service in the Caribbean during the Wars of Jenkins' Ear and the Austrian Succession. One of Edward Vernon's lasting contributions was the invention of grog, a rum-water drink that has long been consumed by the Royal Navy's...

Admiral George Anson was a key figure in the mid-18th century Royal Navy. An able commander, Anson famously circumnavigated the globe in 1740-1744, and captured the treasure galleon Nuestra Senora de Covadonga. Anson later served as First Lord of the Admiralty.

Admiral Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe was a notable Royal Navy officer in the latter part of the 18th century, seeing extensive service during the Seven Years' War. Richard Howe later commanded British fleets during the Ameican Revolution and acted as a peace commissioner. Serving as First Lord of the Admiralty, he returned to fleet command...

Born in Scotland, John Paul Jones served as a merchant captain before coming to America in 1773. Joining the new Continental Navy, Jones distinguished himself in a number of commands including as captain of USS Ranger. Given command of Bonhomme Richard in 1779, Jones captured the British frigate HMS Serapis. Known for his fighting spirit, he...

Admiral George Rodney was a noted British naval leader during Seven Years' War and American Revolution. A seasoned officer, George Rodney took part in numerous campaigns and battles. George Rodney is best known for his 1782 victory at the Battle of the Saintes.

Stephen Decatur rose to prominence during the Barbary Wars when he led a daring raid to destroy the captured frigate USS Philadelphia. During the War of 1812, he gained further fame when he captured the British frigate HMS Macedonian. A national hero, Stephen Decatur was killed in duel by Commodore James Barron in 1820.

Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry was a noted American naval officer during the War of 1812. In 1813, Oliver Hazard Perry won the Battle of Lake Erie and captured the opposing British squadron. After the war, Oliver Hazard Perry served in a variety of peacetime assignments until his death in 1819.

Commodore Matthew C. Perry was a key figure in the US Navy during the first half of the 19th century. A veteran of the War of 1812, Perry aided in the development of the steam navy, the creation of the US Naval Academy, and led naval forces during the Mexican-American War. Perry gained lasting fame in the 1850s when he opened Japan to American...

Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont entered the US Navy in 1815 and saw service during the Mexican-American War. Promoted to captain in 1855, Samuel Du Pont commanded the South Atantic Blockading Squadron during the Civil War. Samuel Du Pont is best remembered for his failed attack on Charleston in 1863.

The adopted son of Commodore David Porter, Admiral David G. Farragut rose through the ranks to command the Union Navy during the Civil War. Winning victories at New Orleans, on the Mississippi, and at Mobile Bay, David G. Farragut became the first US naval officer to attain the ranks of rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral.

Admiral David Dixon Porter was a key Union naval commander during the Civil War. The son of famed Commodore David Porter, he commanded Union naval forces on the Mississippi River during the Vicksburg Campaign. Later leading forces in the Atlantic, Porter was a champion of naval reform after the war.

Arturo Prat was noted Chilean naval officer who saw extensive service during the 19th century. Arturo Prat took part in naval actions against Spain and later against Peru in the War of the Pacific. While commanding the corvette Esmeralda, Arturo Prat was killed at the 1879 Battle of Iquique.

Commodore George Dewey led the US Asiatic Squadron during the Spanish-American War. Departing from Hong Kong, Commodore Dewey won a decisive victory at the Battle of Manila Bay in May 1898. After the war, Dewey was made Admiral of the Navy and contemplated running for president.

Admiral Togo Heihachiro was a famed Japanese naval leader during the Russo-Japanese War. Leading the Japanese fleet at the Battle of Tsushima, Admiral Togo crushed the Russian Baltic Fleet. In the wake of the victory, Admiral Togo became Chief of the Naval General Staff and was awarded the rank of fleet admiral.

Admiral of the Fleet John "Jackie" Fisher was noted British naval leader in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Serving as First Sea Lord, Admiral John Fisher worked to reform the Royal Navy and introduced the first all big-gun battleship, HMS Dreadnought. Admiral Sir John Fisher resigned during World War I after arguments regarding the Gallipoli...

Admiral of the Fleet Sir David Beatty led the British Grand Fleet during the second half of World War I. A rising star in the Royal Navy, he was youngest admiral since Horatio Nelson. A key player in World War I, he commanded British forces at the Heligoland Bight and Dogger Bank, as well as led the battlecruisers at Jutland.

Vice Admiral Maximilian von Spee was a German naval commander during World War I. In command of the German East Asia Squadron, Maximilian von Spee defeated the British at the Battle of Coronel in November 1914. Hunted by a superior British force, Maximilian von Spee's ships were destroyed at the Battle of the Falklands the following month.