Henry Palmer (Royal Navy officer, died 1611) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Henry Palmer
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|---|---|
| Born | c. 1550 |
| Died | 1611 |
| Allegiance |  England |
| Service/ |
Royal Navy |
| Commands held | Rear-Admiral of the Narrow Seas Comptroller of the Navy |
Sir Henry Palmer (born around 1550, died 1611) was an important English naval officer. He was a Rear-Admiral and also the Comptroller of the Navy. This meant he helped manage the Royal Navy from Chatham Dockyard. He was known for overseeing the mast pools, where tall wooden masts for ships were stored.
Sir Henry Palmer is most famous for being sent to Dover to gather special "fireships." These were old ships set on fire and sent towards enemy fleets to cause chaos. He needed them to fight against the powerful Spanish Armada. His two sons were Henry Jr. and Levin. Henry Jr. followed his father into the navy and took over his duties after Sir Henry Sr. passed away. A painting of Sir Henry Palmer Sr. can be seen at Buckland Abbey. A portrait of his son, Henry Jr., hangs at Dorney Court near Windsor.
Contents
Early Years and First Commands
Sir Henry Palmer's family came from a place called Tottington, near Aylesford. We first hear about him in 1576. At that time, he was leading a group of the queen's ships off the coast of Flanders. From then on, he was always busy working for the queen.
Helping Dover Harbour
In 1580 and the years that followed, Sir Henry was part of a special group. This group was in charge of fixing and keeping up Dover harbour. This was a very important port for England.
Fighting the Spanish Armada
In 1587, he was in command of a group of ships near Dunkirk. The next year, in 1588, he played a big role against the Spanish Armada. He commanded the ship HMS Antelope. He was the third in command under Lord Henry Seymour. They were protecting the "Narrow Seas," which are the busy waters between England and mainland Europe.
When Seymour's fleet joined the main English fleet near Calais on July 27, Palmer was given a crucial task. He was sent to Dover to find ships that could be turned into fireships. Even before he could send them, other fireships were quickly prepared. These ships successfully drove the Spanish fleet from their safe spot. Palmer then rejoined Seymour and fought in the Battle of Gravelines on July 29.
After the battle, Seymour's squadron was ordered to stop chasing the Spanish. Palmer returned with him and stayed with the fleet until the end of the sailing season. He then continued to command the "winter guard" along the coast of Flanders.
For the next year, Sir Henry continued to command in the Narrow Seas. In September, he helped escort the English army across to Normandy. He kept doing similar important jobs throughout the war. His ships sometimes sailed to the coast of Cornwall or to Ireland. However, they mostly stayed in the Narrow Seas. In 1596, his squadron helped to blockade Calais.
On December 20, 1598, Sir Henry Palmer received a very important promotion. He was made Comptroller of the Navy. He took over this role from William Borough. In 1600, he was put in charge of defending the River Thames. In 1601, he again commanded ships off the coast of Holland.
After peace was made, he continued to work as the Comptroller. His office was at Chatham Dockyard, overlooking the mast pools. He held this important job until he passed away. Sir Henry Palmer died on November 20, 1611, at his estate called Howlets in Bekesborne.
Sir Henry Palmer's Family
Sir Henry Palmer was married two times. His first wife was Jane, who was the daughter of Edward Isaac. His second wife was Dorothy, whose maiden name was Scott.
He had two sons with his first wife, Jane. The younger son, also named Henry, followed in his father's footsteps. He became the Comptroller of the Navy after his father. Sir Henry Palmer left his estate, Howlets, to his stepson, Isaac Sidley. However, Isaac later gave it to his half-brother, Henry Jr. Sir Henry's other son was named Levin, but not much is known about his life.
Sir Henry Palmer was also a close friend of Sir John Hawkins. When Sir John Hawkins passed away, Sir Henry was chosen to manage his will. For this important task, he was given a valuable diamond worth £20.
