George Rooke
| Admiral Sir George Rooke | |
|---|---|
George Rooke by Michael Dahl painted c. 1705
|
|
| Born | 1650 St Lawrence, Canterbury, Kent |
| Died | 24 January 1709 (aged 59) St Lawrence, Canterbury, Kent |
| Buried at | St Paul's Church, Canterbury |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of England
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy
|
| Years of service | 1672–1705 |
| Rank | Admiral of the Fleet |
| Commands held |
HMS Holmes HMS Nonsuch HMS Hampshire HMS St David HMS Deptford |
| Battles/wars |
Third Anglo-Dutch War Nine Years' War Great Northern War War of the Spanish Succession |
Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Rooke (1650 – 24 January 1709) was an English naval officer. As a junior officer he saw action at the Battle of Solebay and again at the Battle of Schooneveld during the Third Anglo-Dutch War. As a captain, he conveyed Prince William of Orange to England and took part in the Battle of Bantry Bay during the Williamite War in Ireland.
As a flag officer, Rooke commanded a division of the Royal Navy during their defeat at the Battle of Beachy Head. He also commanded a division at the Battle of Barfleur and distinguished himself at the Battle of La Hogue. He was later defeated while escorting a convoy at the Battle of Lagos.
Rooke commanded the unsuccessful allied expedition against Cádiz but on the passage home he destroyed the Spanish treasure fleet at the Battle of Vigo Bay in the opening stages of the War of the Spanish Succession. He also commanded the allied naval forces at the capture of Gibraltar and attacked the French fleet at the Battle of Málaga.
Born the son of Colonel Sir William Rooke and Jane Rooke (née Finch), Rooke joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer in 1672. Promoted to lieutenant later in the year, he was appointed to the first-rate HMS London, flagship of Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Spragge, and saw action when a combined British and French fleet was surprised and attacked by the Dutch, led by Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, at the Battle of Solebay off the Suffolk coast in May 1672 during the Third Anglo-Dutch War. He transferred to the first-rate HMS Royal Prince, flagship of the Duke of York, in 1673 and saw action again at the Battle of Schooneveld in June 1673.
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