Richard Stayner

Vice-admiral Richard Stayner (1625–1662) was an English naval officer who supported the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War and the Interregnum. During the First Anglo-Dutch War he commanded the Foresight in actions at Portland (February), and the Gabbard (June), and in the Battle of Scheveningen (29–31 July), 1653. During the Anglo-Spanish War (1654–60), he won renown and a fortune in prize money when he captured a great part of the Spanish West Indian treasure fleet off Cadiz in 1656. He was knighted by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell for services in Admiral Robert Blake's destruction of Spanish ships at Santa Cruz, 1657. He was a rear-admiral of the fleet which brought Charles II to England in 1660. He was again knighted at the Restoration. He died at Lisbon, while serving as vice-admiral of the Mediterranean fleet.

Richard Stayner was one of several children of Roger Stayner of Tarrant Gunville, Dorset.

In his youth served in the Newfoundland fisheries trade. He joined the Parliamentary navy and served in a subordinate rank during the Civil War. On 22 June 1649 he was appointed commander of the Elizabeth prize, "now a State's ship", though a very small one, her principal armament being two sakers (that is, six-pounders). She was specially fitted out "for surprising small pickaroons that lurk among the sands" on the Essex coast, and for convoy service in the North Sea.

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