Ralph Delaval

Who was Ralph Delaval?

Admiral Sir Ralph Delaval was an English naval admiral.

He was a member of a junior branch of the Delaval family of Seaton Delaval, Northumberland. He was born at North Dissington, Ponteland, Northumberland which estate he ultimately inherited and sold to Edward Collingwood of Bykker in 1673.

He joined the navy at a young age and progressed under the patronage of the Duke of York, later James II, to become Captain of the third rater, York.

He was knighted and raised to Vice Admiral of the Blue on the accession of William III and led the Blue Squadron in the rear division in the Battle of Beachy Head against the French on 10 July 1690.

He was promoted to Vice Admiral of the Red in 1692. At the Battle of La Hogue on 9 May 1692, he personally commanded HMS Royal Sovereign and was responsible for the destruction of the French flagship and two others at Cherbourg. His Royal Sovereign log books are preserved in the archives of the New York Public Library.

In 1693, Delaval, along with Henry Killigrew and Cloudesley Shovell replaced Edward Russell as commander-in-chief.