George Camocke facts for kids

George Camocke (born around 1666, died around 1722) was an Irish naval captain. He first served in the Royal Navy for England. Later, he switched sides and became an admiral for Spain. He served under different English rulers, including King William III, Queen Anne, and King George I. George Camocke was eventually removed from the English navy because he didn't follow orders. After that, he joined the Spanish navy. He died in another country after he lost his good standing with the Spanish navy.

Early Life and Naval Start

George Camocke was born in Ireland around 1666. He came from a family in Essex, England. He joined the navy in 1682. After serving for eight years, Camocke showed his skill. He safely brought a French privateer ship, which had twelve guns, back to England. Because of this success, he was promoted to lieutenant.

Serving the English Navy

Camocke became the commander of the Lion, a large ship with 60 guns. He fought bravely with this ship in two important battles: the Battle of Beachy Head (1690) and the Battle of Barfleur in 1692. He was hurt while helping to set fire to a big French ship at La Hogue. Soon after, in 1692, he was promoted again to first lieutenant of the Loyal Merchant. This ship was part of a fleet that sailed to the Mediterranean Sea.

In 1695, Camocke took command of a fire ship called Owner's Goodwill. He was later promoted to lead the Intelligence, a smaller warship. With the Intelligence, Camocke helped attack the city of Calais. In 1697, his ship was taken out of service, and Camocke faced hard times. He asked the Admiralty, which was like the navy's main office, for help many times. They eventually gave him a job on a guard ship. However, he wasn't happy with this role because the ship wasn't actively sailing. So, he asked the Admiralty for help again.

In September, Camocke was given command of a small ship called the Bonetta. He sailed this ship in the North Sea and around the coast of Ireland. In June 1702, Camocke was promoted and took charge of the frigate Speedwell. He used the Speedwell very well for eight years, fighting against enemy privateers. Privateers were like legal pirates who attacked enemy ships. In 1711, he became commander of the Monck, another 60-gun ship, and continued to capture enemy privateers.

In 1713, Camocke was ordered to sail to Port Mahon and take English soldiers to Britain. However, he first took Spanish soldiers from Palermo to Alicante. He then picked up the English soldiers but stopped at Cadiz and Lisbon, Portugal before heading to Britain. These actions were seen as not following his orders. He was suspended from duty until a court-martial (a military trial) could clear his name. Camocke said that the Queen had approved his actions and that his suspension should be stopped. But he was soon removed from the list of captains, meaning he was no longer part of the English navy.

Joining the Spanish Navy

After leaving the English navy, Camocke thought about joining the Russian Navy. Instead, three years later, he became a rear admiral in the Spanish Navy. He was part of the Spanish fleet that was attacked by Sir George Byng near Cape Passaro in 1718. Camocke managed to escape and returned to Messina.

While Messina was under a blockade, meaning ships couldn't easily leave or enter, Camocke tried to escape on a small ship. In January 1719, his ship was captured by the Royal Oak. Camocke was so scared that he left everything behind, including important papers. He managed to get away to Catania.

Later Life and Passing

Once back in Spain, George Camocke was sent away to Ceuta. He died a few years later, either there or in Rouen, France.