Roger Strickland facts for kids
Sir Roger Strickland (1640–1717) was an important English naval officer. He became an admiral, leading many ships in battles at sea. He also served as a Member of Parliament, which means he helped make laws for England.
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Roger Strickland was born in 1640. His family lived in Lancashire and Yorkshire. He started his career in the navy in 1665. This was a time when England often fought at sea.
First Commands and Battles
In 1666, Roger Strickland commanded a ship called the Santa Maria. It had 48 guns. He fought in a big naval fight known as the Four Days' Battle.
Later, in 1672, he commanded the ship Plymouth. It had 58 guns. He fought in the Battle of Solebay. During this battle, he bravely helped get back an English ship called the Henry after it was captured by the Dutch.
He also took part in other important battles in 1673. These included the Battle of Schooneveld and the Battle of Texel. Because of his bravery and success in these battles, he was made a knight. This meant he was given the title "Sir."
Rising Through the Ranks
In 1677, Sir Roger was promoted to a higher rank. He became a rear-admiral. He worked as a leader under other famous admirals. In 1678, he helped capture a large enemy ship with 40 guns.
Later Career and Challenges
Sir Roger Strickland was a Roman Catholic. At that time, being Catholic could make it hard to advance in England. His career slowed down during the later years of King Charles II's rule. During this time, he became a Member of Parliament for Aldborough.
Serving King James II
When James II became king, Sir Roger's career quickly improved. King James II was also Catholic. Sir Roger was promoted to vice-admiral and then to Admiral of the Blue. This was a very high rank.
In 1688, he was in charge of the Channel Fleet. This was a group of important warships. However, he faced a problem when he tried to hold a Catholic church service on his ship, the Mary. This caused some sailors to protest. Soon after, he was replaced as commander.
After the Glorious Revolution
In 1688, there was a big change in England called the Glorious Revolution. King James II lost his throne. Sir Roger Strickland decided to support King James II. He left his navy job and went to France with the king. He even went with King James II to Ireland, but he did not lead any ships there.
Because he supported King James II, Sir Roger was accused of treason. This means he was accused of betraying his country. His name was later removed from the list of people to be punished. However, he was still officially called "outlawed." This meant he had lost his legal rights. His properties were taken away.
Sir Roger Strickland lived the rest of his life in France. He passed away in 1717.
