John Narborough

Rear Admiral Sir John Narborough, RN (born c.1640 - d. 1688) was an English naval commander of the 17th century, who served with distinction during the Anglo-Dutch Wars and against the Barbary Coast pirates. He was descended from an old Norfolk family.

He received his commission in 1664, and in 1666 was promoted lieutenant for gallantry in the action with the Dutch fleet off the Downs in June of that year. After the peace he was chosen to conduct a voyage of exploration in the South Seas. He set sail from Deptford on November 26, 1669, and entered the Straits of Magellan in October of the following year. In 1670 he visited Port Desire in Argentina and claimed the territory for the Kingdom of Great Britain, but returned home in June 1671 without accomplishing his original purpose. A narrative of the expedition was published at London in 1694 under the title "An Account of several late Voyages and Discoveries to the South and North".

During the Third Anglo-Dutch War Narborough was second captain of the Lord High Admiral's ship the "Prince", and conducted himself with such conspicuous valour at the battle of Solebay (Southwold Bay) in May 1672 that he won special approbation, and shortly afterwards was made rear-admiral and knighted. In 1675 he was sent to suppress the Tripoline piracies, and by the bold expedient of despatching gun-boats into the harbour of Tripoli at midnight and burning the ships he induced the dey to agree to a treaty.

Shortly after his return he undertook a similar expedition against the Algerines. In 1680 he was appointed commissioner of the Navy, an office he held till his death. He was buried at Knowlton church, Kent, where a monument has been erected to his memory. See Charnock, "Biog. Nav." i.; "Hist. MSS. Comm." 12th Rept.

The island of Fernadina, the youngest and westernmost island of the Galapagos Archipelago, was originally named 'Narborough Island' in his honour by the 17th century buccaneer William Ambrosia Cowley.----