(source: british-civil-wars. Commonwealth and Protectorate. By David Plant, 2001 - 6.)
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Monck
began his military career at the age of 16 when he volunteered to join
the English expedition against Cadiz (1625), during which he may have
served under his cousin Sir Richard Grenville. After his return to
England, Monck and his elder brother beat up an under-sheriff who had
arrested their father for debt. Monck pursued and stabbed the
under-sheriff, who later died of his wounds. To escape prosecution,
Monck joined the expedition for the relief of La Rochelle (1627)
where he greatly distinguished himself. About
1629, Monck joined the English volunteers fighting for the Prince of
Orange against the Spanish in the Thirty Years' War. He spent nine
years in the Dutch service, and rose to the rank of captain-lieutenant
in Colonel Goring's regiment. Monck was a hero of the siege of Breda
in 1637, during which he led the storming of the breach that resulted
in the city's surrender. However, he resigned his commission in a fit
of rage following an argument with the Dutch authorities at Dordrecht,
where some of his troops had been accused of misconduct. He returned
to England and joined King Charles' army. Following
the defeat of the Royalists in England, Monck took an oath of loyalty
to Parliament Monck
was given command of a regiment of foot in Cromwell's army for the
invasion of Scotland in July 1650. When Cromwell advanced into Fife in
July 1651, Monck secured the English position. However, Monck's health
had declined. He was obliged to resign his commission in February 1652
and return to England to recuperate. In
December 1652, Monck joined Blake
and Deane as a General-at-Sea in the First
Anglo-Dutch War. Although he had no previous naval
experience, Monck's powers of leadership and his expertise as an
artillery officer qualified him for command at sea. Relying upon the
seamanship of his officers, Monck played a decisive role in the battle
of Portland in February 1653. After Deane was killed at the battle of
North Foreland and Blake was forced to return to England to
recover from his wounds, Monck took command of the English fleet,
imposing a total blockade on Dutch ports and bringing Dutch commerce
to a standstill. When the Dutch attempted to break the blockade in
July 1653, Monck was victorious at the battle
of Scheveningen the deciding battle of the war,
during which the Dutch admiral Maarten
Tromp was killed. On
1 May 1653, he recommended that Parliament should invite Charles II to
return. When the restored King landed at Dover on 25 May, Monck was
the first to greet him as he came ashore. Amongst other honours for his part in the Restoration, Monck was appointed Captain-General of the Army, Master of the King's Horse and created Duke of Albemarle. Monck's regiment of foot — originally formed by Cromwell in 1650 — was the only New Model Army regiment to be incorporated into Charles II's standing army, where it became known as the Coldstream Guards. Monck played an active naval role in the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665-1667) but generally kept out of politics. During the emergencies of the Great Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of 1666, Monck took charge of governing London. As one of the Lords Proprietor of Carolina, Albemarle Sound was named in his honour, as was Albemarle County, Virginia. He died on 3 January 1670, receiving a state funeral at the King's expense, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
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