Richard Haddock ca.1629-1715

Sir Richard HADDOCK ca.1629-1715

Biographical Note

Born at Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, son of William Haddock, mariner, who commanded ships for Parliament during the Civil War and Interregnum. Richard followed his father’s profession and became captain of a ship in 1657. He was a successful captain during the Anglo-Dutch War in the early 1670s and was made a commissioner of the Navy in 1673. He was knighted in 1675 and served as an MP several times from 1679. He held a succession of senior Navy administrative posts until his death, and was briefly in active service again in 1690 against the French. His considerable wealth was noted by Samuel Pepys as “the greatest instance of an estate raised purely from sea service”.

Books

Haddock used an engraved armorial bookplate dated 1702 (Franks *269), but no surviving examples of books containing the plate have been traced. His will, which includes the disposal of property, money, jewellery, plate and pictures, has no mention of books; his “household goods unbequeathed” were divided three ways between some of his children.

Sources

• Davies, J. D. "Haddock, Sir Richard (c. 1629–1715), naval officer." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.