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.
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:
| Appointed | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1540 | Thomas Wingfield | First incumbent |
| 1551 | Thomas Boys | |
| 1569 | John Baker | |
| 1572 | Peter Hammond | |
| 1599 | Matthew Bredgate | |
| 1611 | Erasmus Finch | |
| 1611 | William Byng | Removed as a suspected Royalist |
| 1642 | William Batten | Parliamentarian, who replaced Byng at the outbreak of the First English Civil War |
| 1648 | Col. Thomas Rainsborough | Parliamentarian; replaced after its Parliamentarian garrison switched sides during the Second English Civil War |
| 1648 | Capt. Wyne | |
| 1648 | Maj. Samuel Kemm | |
| 1648 | Col. Nathaniel Rich | Parliamentarian commander who recaptured the castle in August, 1648 |
| 1653 | Samuel Taverner | Replaced Rich, who was removed due to his opposition to The Protectorate |
| 1660 | William Byng | Returned to office following the Stuart Restoration |
| 1661 | Col. Silius Titus | |
| 1671 | Capt. Francis Digby | |
| 1672 | Francis Hawley, 1st Baron Hawley | |
| 1673 | Sir John Berry | |
| 1690 | Lt. Col. Sir John Granville | |
| 1690 | Sir Francis Wheler | Died in office, 1694 |
| 1745 | John Norris | Died 1749 |
| 1777 | The Marquis of Carmarthen | |
| 1786 | The Lord North | |
| 1802 | Robert Smith, 1st Baron Carrington | |
| 1838 | The Lord Maryborough | |
| 1843 | The Earl of Dalhousie | |
| 1847 | The Earl of Clanwilliam | |
| 1879 | The Earl Sydney | |
| 1890 | The Lord Herschell | |
| 1899 | Rt. Hon. Lord George Hamilton | |
| 1923 | Field Marshal The Earl of Ypres | |
| 1925 | Field Marshal The Lord Allenby | |
| 1927 | The Marquess of Reading | |
| 1934 | Field Marshal The Lord Birdwood | |
| 1951 | Position vacant | |
| 1972 | General Sir Norman Tailyour | |
| 1980 | Maj. Gen. Ian Harrison | |
| 2008 | Maj. Gen. Garry Robison | Henceforth tied to the appointment of the Commandant General Royal Marines |
References
- "Exploring Kent's Past". Kent County Council. 25 January 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- "Captains of Deal Castle". East Kent freeuk. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- "Byng, William (1586-by 1669), of Wrotham, Kent; later of Deal Castle, Kent", The History of Parliament, 2010, retrieved 21 September 2022
- "Historical Timeline: The Royal Marines in Deal and Walmer". Royal Marines Heritage Trails. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
| Governors and constables in England and Wales | |
|---|---|
| Governors | |
| Constables | |
| Captains | |