Cloudesley Shovell

Sir Cloudesley Shovell (c. November, 1650 – 22 or 23 October 1707), English admiral, was baptised at Cockthorpe in Norfolk, in 1650. Rising through the officer ranks he became a popular British hero, whose celebrated naval career was brought to an end in a disastrous shipwreck in the Isles of Scilly. Member of Parliament for Rochester, Kent, from 1695 until his death.

Spelling of his name

There are many different versions used for the spelling of both his Christian name and surname. He used the spelling Cloudesley Shovell in his will written on 20 April 1701 when he was 50. Both his father and his widow also spelt their surname as Shovell in their wills. Despite this the memorial in Westminster Abbey where he is buried used the version Shovel, and thus may have given rise to this other version. The Christian name Cloudesley was often indistinctly signed which may have given rise to variety of spellings used by subsequent biographers.

Related Topics:
20 April - 1701 - Westminster Abbey

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