Captain John Tyrrell (1646-1692) of Oakley, Buckinghamshire, son of Sir Timothy Tyrrell and Dame Elizabeth, his wife, was made by Charles II of England the Second Admiral in the East Indies. John Tyrrell served in the Restoration navy, including a long period as a lieutenant. In 1665, he was appointed lieutenant of the 3rd Rate Resolution. In 1672, he was appointed lieutenant of the Leopard. In 1674, the King appointed him lieutenant of the 4th Rate Dragon. Finally, on 16 January 1678 (under the old system, they called it 1677), the King appointed him as captain of the 6th Rate Drake. On 3 April 1680, he was given command of the prize Orangetree. On 13 April 1682, he was reappointed to command the Orangetree. On 18 April, he was switched to the Mermaid. On 23 February 1684 (again, they called it 1683), he was appointed to command the Oxford. On 1 June 1684, the King appointed John Tyrrell to command the Phoenix (42 guns). On 19 September 1685, he caught and sank a "Zanganian" pirate ship in an action notable for the boarding and survival of then Lieutenant John Byng. Then on 4 September 1688, he was appointed to command the Mordaunt (46 guns). He took part in the action on 4 October 1689, when a group of English cruisers fell in with 12 French warships, and the 6th Rate Lively prize was lost. He commanded the 3rd Rate Anne (70 guns) when she was beached and burnt after the Battle of Beachy Head in 30 June 1690, "where he withstood the violence of the whole French navy". He had been assigned to the rear (Blue) squadron. He fought at the Battle of Barfleur, where he commanded the 2nd Rate Ossory (90 guns). He died 6th December 1692. and according to his memorial in Oakley he was a true lover of his country, a valiant and skilful Commander.
References
William Laird Clowes, The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Present, Vol.II, 1898. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903. Memorial tablets within Oakley Church.
