John Benbow
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Vice-Admiral of the White John Benbow was a Royal Navy officer. He joined the Navy in 1678, seeing action against Barbary pirates before leaving to join the Merchant Navy in which Benbow served until
1701 portrait of Benbow by Sir Godfrey Kneller
Thomas Murray's triple portrait of Thomas Phillips (left), John Benbow (centre) and Sir Ralph Delaval (right). The three had been important figures in British fleet operations against the north coast of France during 1692–93.
Benbow's attack on Saint-Malo, where he blew up the machine ship Vesuvius, 1693
Benbow's bombardment of Dieppe in July 1694
Action of August 1702
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The action of August 1702 was an inconclusive naval battle of the War of the Spanish Succession fought between 19 and 25 August 1702 O.S.. An English squadron under Vice-admiral John Benbow engaged in
John Benbow
…during the War of the Spanish Succession. Benbow's fame and success earned him a promotion to the rank of vice-admiral. He subsequently fought at the action of August 1702, in which a number of his captains refused to support him in attacking the French. Benbow instigated the court-martial and subsequent imprisonment or…
Illustration of an injured Benbow during the battle