Men of Kent and Kentishmen/Sir George Rooke
Sir George Rooke,
ADMIRAL,
Was the eldest son of Sir William Rooke, of the Priory of St. Lawrence, Canterbury, where he was born in 1650, After entering the navy, his first services were on the coast of Ireland, where he prevented the intercourse of James II. with Scotland. By William the Third he was advanced to the rank of Admiral, in which capacity he served with great distinction, being present at the battles off Beachy Head and La Hogue. On the latter occasion he burnt ten French ships of the line, with the loss of only ten men on his side. For this exploit he was made Vice-Admiral of the Red, and knighted. In the war of the Spanish Succession he destroyed seventeen of the enemy's ships off Vigo, and in conjunction with Sir Cloudesley Shovel, captured the Rock and Fortress of Gibraltar, 22nd July, 1704, which has ever since remained in possession of the English Crown. In the same year he fought a desperate but undecided action with the whole French fleet off Malaga. For these services he was received with distinction by Queen Anne, but through disagreement with the Government, he resigned his appointments and retired to St. Lawrence, where he spent the rest of his life in retirement. He died 24th January, 1709, leaving behind him a fortune so moderate that, on making his will, he remarked of it—" I do not leave much; but what I leave was honestly gotten; it never cost a sailor a tear, nor the nation a farthing."
[See "Biographia Britannica."]