William Penn (Admiral)

Sir William Penn (1621 - 1670) rose to the rank of Admiral under the English Commonwealth, but was dismissed from command by Oliver Cromwell despite the success of the expedition, jointly commanded by him, which captured Jamaica. Under Charles II, he had some commands at sea, but more significantly served on the Navy Board where he was a colleague of Samuel Pepys, who detested him, but expressed approval of his knowledge of naval warfare, and when the position of Comptroller of the Navy seemed to be about to become vacant, wrote that he thought him "the ablest man in England for it."