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List of captains of Deal Castle

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Deal Castle at the end of the 19th century; at the rear are the Captain's Quarters, destroyed in 1943

Deal Castle is a defensive artillery fortress in Deal, Kent, England, which was built in 1540 by order of Henry VIII. The successive Captains of Deal Castle originally commanded a garrison based at the fortress, initially from quarters within the keep but later from purpose built quarters in a block between the keep and the outer wall. The accommodation block was demolished and rebuilt in 1802 and demolished a second time in 1943 following enemy action during the Second World War.[1]

From the early 1700s the post of Captain became an honorary position benefitting from the residential accommodation provided by the castle's living quarters. After the wartime demolition the accommodation was provided elsewhere.

List of captains

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Captains were as follows:[2]

Appointed Incumbent Notes
1540 Thomas Wingfield First incumbent
1551 Thomas Boys
1569 John Baker
1572 Peter Hammond
1599 Matthew Bredgate
1611 Erasmus Finch
1611 William Byng Removed as a suspected Royalist[3]
1642 William Batten Parliamentarian, who replaced Byng at the outbreak of the First English Civil War
1648 Col. Thomas Rainsborough Parliamentarian; replaced after its Parliamentarian garrison switched sides during the Second English Civil War
1648 Capt. Wyne
1648 Maj. Samuel Kemm
1648 Col. Nathaniel Rich Parliamentarian commander who recaptured the castle in August, 1648
1653 Samuel Taverner Replaced Rich, who was removed due to his opposition to The Protectorate
1660 William Byng Returned to office following the Stuart Restoration
1661 Col. Silius Titus
1671 Capt. Francis Digby
1672 Francis Hawley, 1st Baron Hawley
1673 Sir John Berry
1690 Lt. Col. Sir John Granville
1690 Sir Francis Wheler Died in office, 1694
1745 John Norris Died 1749
1777 The Marquis of Carmarthen
1786 The Lord North
1802 Robert Smith, 1st Baron Carrington
1838 The Lord Maryborough
1843 The Earl of Dalhousie
1847 The Earl of Clanwilliam
1879 The Earl Sydney
1890 The Lord Herschell
1899 Rt. Hon. Lord George Hamilton
1923 Field Marshal The Earl of Ypres
1925 Field Marshal The Lord Allenby
1927 The Marquess of Reading
1934 Field Marshal The Lord Birdwood
1951 Position vacant
1972 General Sir Norman Tailyour
1980 Maj. Gen. Ian Harrison
2008 Maj. Gen. Garry Robison Henceforth tied to the appointment of the Commandant General Royal Marines[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Exploring Kent's Past". Kent County Council. 25 January 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Captains of Deal Castle". East Kent freeuk. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Byng, William (1586-by 1669), of Wrotham, Kent; later of Deal Castle, Kent", The History of Parliament, 2010, retrieved 21 September 2022
  4. ^ "Historical Timeline: The Royal Marines in Deal and Walmer". Royal Marines Heritage Trails. Retrieved 13 June 2019.