John Beauchamp, 1st Baron Beauchamp of Warwick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Admiral of the Fleet Lord de Beauchamp
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Chest tomb of Sir John de Beauchamp, 1st Baron Beauchamp, KG, in Old St Paul's Cathedral, drawn in 1658 by Wenceslaus Hollar
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| Born | 1316 Warwick |
| Died | 2 December 1360 City of London |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  England |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1338–1360 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | Admiral of the Fleet Admiral of the South Admiral of the West Constable of the Tower Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Captain |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Crécy Battle of Sluys |
John de Beauchamp (born around 1316 – died December 2, 1360) was an important English military leader. He was known as the Admiral of the Fleet. He was also the first Baron Beauchamp de Warwick.
John de Beauchamp was one of the first knights to join the famous Order of the Garter. This special group was created by King Edward III in 1348. He was the tenth knight to be chosen.
About John de Beauchamp
John de Beauchamp was born in Warwick, England. His father was Guy De Beauchamp, the Earl of Warwick. His mother was Alice De Toeni. John was one of their seven children.
He never married or had children. He lived in London towards the end of his life. When he died, he left his house to the King. The King then used it as a large royal storage area.
John de Beauchamp was buried in Old St Paul's Cathedral in London. His tomb was very grand. Sadly, it was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. For a long time, people mistakenly thought it was the tomb of another famous person, Duke Humphrey. Today, a modern monument in the cathedral lists his name among other important people buried there.
Early Military Career
John de Beauchamp started his military career early. In 1338, he joined King Edward III in Flanders. He was part of the English forces in 1339.
He played a role in the big naval victory at the Battle of Sluys in 1340. This was a major sea battle against the French fleet.
In 1346, he was at the famous Battle of Crécy. This was a huge land battle where the English won against the French. John de Beauchamp had the important job of carrying the Royal Standard. This was the King's special flag. Carrying it meant he was very trusted and brave.
After Crécy, he was also present at the siege of Calais. This was when the English army surrounded the city of Calais until it surrendered. In 1348, he became the captain of Calais for two years. This was his first important command role.
Becoming a Top Commander
In 1350, John de Beauchamp was made the Admiral of the Fleet off Calais. This fleet was also known as the Southern Fleet. Five years later, in 1355, he was given command of the Western Sea's Fleet. He held this position until 1356.
On July 18, 1360, he received an even bigger role. He was appointed 'Admiral of the King's Southern, Northern and Western Fleets'. This was a very important moment. It meant that for the first time, one person was in charge of the entire English navy. This role later developed into the title of Admiral of the Fleet.
Besides his naval commands, he also held other key positions. He was the Constable of the Tower of London. This meant he was in charge of the famous Tower of London. He was also the Warden of the Cinque Ports. This role involved protecting important coastal towns in England. In 1350, he was called to Parliament as a baron.
Images for kids
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Chest tomb of Sir John de Beauchamp, 1st Baron Beauchamp, KG, in Old St Paul's Cathedral, drawn in 1658 by Wenceslaus Hollar
