William Bokenham facts for kids
William Bokenham (died 10 November 1702) was an important officer in the Royal Navy, which is the navy of the United Kingdom. He was also a politician who served in the House of Commons from 1701 to 1702. The House of Commons is a part of the British Parliament where laws are made.
William Bokenham started his naval career on 10 August 1681. He became a lieutenant, which is a junior officer rank, in the Royal Navy. He quickly rose through the ranks.
By 7 May 1689, he was promoted to captain. This meant he was in charge of a ship. He commanded several ships during his career. These included HMS Happy Return from 1689 to 1690.
He also commanded HMS Monck in 1691. Later, from 1693 to 1694, he was captain of HMS Duchess. In 1696, he worked closely with famous naval commanders. He was the first captain to Sir George Rooke and later to Lord Berkeley.
Political Life
In November 1701, William Bokenham was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is someone elected to represent a local area in the House of Commons. He represented the area of Rochester.
He was elected because the government supported him. He held this position until July 1702. This means he was a politician for about eight months.
Battle of Vigo Bay
In August 1702, Captain Bokenham took command of HMS Association. This was a very powerful ship with ninety guns. He led his ship in a major naval battle called the Battle of Vigo Bay.
The battle happened on 23 October 1702. During the fight, HMS Association fired many "broadsides." This means it fired all the cannons on one side of the ship at the same time. They aimed at a strong enemy fort on the shore.
His ship's powerful attack quickly destroyed the fort. The Battle of Vigo Bay was a huge victory for the combined forces of England and the Netherlands against the French navy.
Family and Property
William Bokenham passed away on 10 November 1702. His property in Rochester was inherited by his brother, Robert Bokenham. Robert was also a captain in the navy.
Later, the properties were passed down to another brother, Harry Bokenham. Harry's daughter, Anne Bokenham, and her husband, John Dumaresq, eventually sold the property in 1729.
