Andrew Wood of Largo

Sir Andrew Wood of Largo (d 1515) was a Scottish Sea Captain. Beginning as a merchant in Leith, he was involved in national naval actions and rose to become Lord High Admiral of Scotland. He was knighted c. 1495. He may have transported James III across the Firth of Forth to escape the rebels in 1488.

He superintended the rebuilding of Dunbar Castle in 1497.

Andrew Wood is the subject of the historical novel "The Admiral" by Nigel Tranter.

Naval career

Wood began his naval career as a privateer under James III, and flourished under James IV. By 1489 he owned the "Flower" and the "Yellow Carvel", both fighting ships, which fought and captured a five English ships offshore near Dunbar. In response, the English launched a larger expedition the following year under Stephen Bull, which attacked Wood's ships in the Firth of Forth. The fight lasted two days (stopping only at night) and was watched by crowds in Edinburgh. Wood was eventually triumphant, despite being outnumbered in ships and guns and the English ships were captured. [Sadler, p. 411] James IV knighted Wood following this battle, and allowed him to press some of the captured English sailors, who later helped to build the castle at Largo. [Tranter, p. 119]

Notes

References

*Sadler, John; "Border Fury: England and Scotland at War 1296-1568", UK: Pearson Education Ltd, 2005 ISBN 1405840226
*Tranter, Nigel; "The Story of Scotland,", Glasgow: Neil Wilson Publishing, 1993 ISBN 1897784074 (first published 1987 by Routledge & Keagan Paul Ltd)