William Monson (Royal Navy officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vice-Admiral Sir William Monson
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | 1569 |
| Died | 1643 London |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of England |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1585–1636 |
| Rank | Vice-Admiral |
| Commands held | Admiral of the Narrow Seas |
| Battles/wars | Armada Azores Voyage of 1589 Battle of Flores (1592) engagement off Berlengas Islands Battle of Cadiz (1596) Battle of Sesimbra Bay (1602) |
| Relations | Son of Sir John Monson of South Carlton |
Sir William Monson (born 1569 – died February 1643) was an English admiral and a member of the House of Commons in 1601. He was known for his exciting life at sea and for writing important books about naval history.
Contents
Early Life and First Adventures
William Monson was born in 1569, the third son of Sir John Monson from South Carlton, Lincolnshire. When he was 14, he started studying at Balliol College, Oxford.
In 1585, at just 16 years old, William ran away to sea. His first experience was on a privateer ship. A privateer was a private ship allowed by the government to attack enemy ships. He fought against a Spanish ship in the Bay of Biscay.
A Career at Sea
Fighting the Spanish Armada
In 1588, a huge Spanish fleet called the Spanish Armada tried to invade England. William Monson served as a lieutenant on a small ship called the "Charles" during this famous battle.
Voyages with the Earl of Cumberland
Since there wasn't a regular navy back then, William often joined adventurous leaders. He sailed with the brave George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland on many trips. In 1589, he was second-in-command on a journey to the Azores.
His success led him to join more of Cumberland's adventures in 1591 and 1593. One of his most exciting voyages was in 1592. During this trip, his fleet captured a very rich Spanish ship called the Madre de Deus. This ship was full of treasures!
Later, William was captured by the Spanish after a battle near the Berlengas Islands. He was held prisoner in Lisbon for a while. After his release, he continued his studies and got a master's degree from Oxford in 1594. He also got married in 1595.
Becoming a Knight and Admiral
In 1596, William Monson took part in the expedition to Cádiz, a city in Spain. He commanded a ship called the Due Repulse. For his bravery, he was made a knight.
From this time until the war with Spain ended, he was always busy at sea. In 1602, he led the last fleet sent out by Queen Elizabeth. He defeated a Spanish and Portuguese fleet at Sesimbra Bay, near Lisbon. He even captured a large, valuable ship and took prisoner the same man who had captured him years earlier!
Admiral of the Narrow Seas
In 1601, William Monson was chosen to be a Member of Parliament for Malmesbury. In 1604, he was given an important job: Admiral of the Narrow Seas. This meant he was in charge of protecting the English Channel, which was like being the head of the modern-day Channel Fleet.
In 1614, he was sent to the coasts of Scotland and Ireland. His mission was to stop the pirates who were causing trouble there. William Monson believed he had gotten rid of these pirates.
After 1614, he didn't serve actively at sea again until 1635. In that year, he became a vice-admiral in a fleet put together by King Charles I. He spent his later years writing his famous books.
William Monson passed away in February 1643 and was buried in London.
His Important Writings
Sir William Monson is remembered not just for his naval service, but also for his important books called Tracts. These books were like journals or essays. They included stories about naval history and ideas for improving the navy.
His writings are the best way to learn about naval life during the time of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. He wrote clearly and honestly about his experiences and the navy of his time. He was one of the first "modern" naval officers. This means he was a gentleman who was trained specifically for life at sea, not just a soldier put on a ship.
