Deal Castle at the end of the 19th century; at the rear are the Captain's Quarters, destroyed in 1943

Deal Castle is a defensive artillery fortress in Deal, Kent, England, which was built in 1540 by order of Henry VIII. The successive Captains of Deal Castle originally commanded a garrison based at the fortress, initially from quarters within the keep but later from purpose built quarters in a block between the keep and the outer wall. The accommodation block was demolished and rebuilt in 1802 and demolished a second time in 1943 following enemy action during the Second World War.[1]

From the early 1700s the post of Captain became an honorary position benefitting from the residential accommodation provided by the castle's living quarters. After the wartime demolition the accommodation was provided elsewhere.

List of captains

Captains were as follows:[2]

Appointed Incumbent Notes
1540Thomas WingfieldFirst incumbent
1551Thomas Boys
1569John Baker
1572Peter Hammond
1599Matthew Bredgate
1611Erasmus Finch
1611William ByngRemoved as a suspected Royalist[3]
1642William Batten Parliamentarian, who replaced Byng at the outbreak of the First English Civil War
1648Col. Thomas RainsboroughParliamentarian; replaced after its Parliamentarian garrison switched sides during the Second English Civil War
1648Capt. Wyne
1648Maj. Samuel Kemm
1648Col. Nathaniel RichParliamentarian commander who recaptured the castle in August, 1648
1653Samuel TavernerReplaced Rich, who was removed due to his opposition to The Protectorate
1660William ByngReturned to office following the Stuart Restoration
1661Col. Silius Titus
1671Capt. Francis Digby
1672Francis Hawley, 1st Baron Hawley
1673Sir John Berry
1690Lt. Col. Sir John Granville
1690Sir Francis WhelerDied in office, 1694
1745John NorrisDied 1749
1777The Marquis of Carmarthen
1786The Lord North
1802Robert Smith, 1st Baron Carrington
1838The Lord Maryborough
1843The Earl of Dalhousie
1847The Earl of Clanwilliam
1879The Earl Sydney
1890The Lord Herschell
1899Rt. Hon. Lord George Hamilton
1923Field Marshal The Earl of Ypres
1925Field Marshal The Lord Allenby
1927The Marquess of Reading
1934Field Marshal The Lord Birdwood
1951Position vacant
1972General Sir Norman Tailyour
1980Maj. Gen. Ian Harrison
2008Maj. Gen. Garry RobisonHenceforth tied to the appointment of the Commandant General Royal Marines[4]

References

  1. "Exploring Kent's Past". Kent County Council. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  2. "Captains of Deal Castle". East Kent freeuk. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  3. "Byng, William (1586-by 1669), of Wrotham, Kent; later of Deal Castle, Kent", The History of Parliament, 2010, retrieved 21 September 2022
  4. "Historical Timeline: The Royal Marines in Deal and Walmer". Royal Marines Heritage Trails. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
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