David Mitchell (Royal Navy officer)
| Sir David Mitchell | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Sir David Mitchell, painted by an artist of the British school between 1688 and 1690
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| Born | c. 1650 |
| Died | 1 June 1710 Hatfield, Hertfordshire |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of England Kingdom of Great Britain
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| Service/ |
 Royal Navy (1672–1707) Royal Navy (1707–1710) |
| Years of service | 1672–1710 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held |
Ruby Elizabeth Britannia |
| Battles/wars | |
Sir David Mitchell (ca. 1650 – 1 June 1710) was a Scottish admiral, courtier and parliamentary official.
He came from humble origins, being descended from, as John Charnock put it, a family "more distinguished for their integrity than their riches." When he was sixteen years old, his father apprenticed him to the master of a trading vessel from Leith. Having served this apprenticeship, he acted as mate aboard various vessels engaged in the Baltic trade.
On the outbreak of the Third Anglo-Dutch War in 1672, he was pressed into service in the Royal Navy. He is recorded serving as a midshipman aboard the Swallow in the Mediterranean from 31 October 1673 to 15 October 1674, under the captaincy of Edward Russell. He followed Russell to the Reserve in 1676, and participated in his voyage to Newfoundland. Still serving under Russell, he was promoted to second lieutenant aboard the Defiance on 16 January 1678, and as first lieutenant aboard the Swiftsure on 26 March 1679. Passed over for promotion, he remained with Russell, becoming first lieutenant of the Newcastle on 10 August 1680. When Russell fell from favour following his cousin's involvement in the Rye House Plot, Mitchell remained in the service and became first lieutenant of the Tyger on 8 May 1682. He served aboard this vessel under the command of vice admiral Arthur Herbert in the Mediterranean, and returned home with him in July 1683.
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