John Creed (naval administrator) facts for kids
John Creed (died 1701) was an important administrator in the British Royal Navy. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, a famous group of scientists and thinkers. He worked closely with a powerful leader named Edward Montagu.
Where John Creed Came From
John Creed was born in Northamptonshire, a county in England. We don't know exactly when he was born, and not much is known about his early life. It seems he came from a simple background.
He became a close helper to Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich. Montagu was a very important person who helped bring back the king, Charles II, after a period when England was a republic (the Commonwealth). Even though Montagu became a supporter of the king, John Creed's career later faced problems. This was because some people thought he was a Puritan. Puritans were a group of Christians who had strict beliefs and often disagreed with the king's church.
John Creed's Work and Adventures
John Creed worked as a secretary for Edward Montagu. This job led him to become involved in naval matters. Montagu was a top naval commander, first under Oliver Cromwell (during the Commonwealth) and then as an Admiral under King Charles II.
According to a monument in Titchmarsh, Northamptonshire, John Creed served King Charles II in "many honorable jobs at home and abroad." One place he worked was English Tangier. In 1661 and 1662, he traveled with Montagu (who was now the Earl of Sandwich) to take control of Tangier for England. He also helped bring Catherine of Braganza to England to marry King Charles II.
Montagu was also a supporter of the famous diarist Samuel Pepys. Pepys wrote some negative things about Creed in his diary. However, there is proof that Creed and Pepys had shared interests beyond their work for Montagu and the Royal Navy. John Creed became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1663. In those early days, you didn't have to be a scientist to join. Some people think Creed's membership might have made Pepys interested in the Society too. Pepys joined in 1665 and later became its President.
John Creed's Family Life
In 1668, John Creed married Elizabeth Pickering. She was related to both Samuel Pepys and the Earl of Sandwich. Pepys attended their wedding, which took place in Titchmarsh, Northamptonshire. Pepys thought that Creed had married someone from a higher social class than himself, but he simply said, "let them do what they will." John and Elizabeth Creed had eleven children together.
