ADMIRAL BLAKE.
Born 1598.—Died 1657.—Elizabeth.—James I.—Charles I.
Born at Bridgewater in Somersetshire. He was first distinguished as a Parliamentary General. He afterwards raised the name of the English navy, under Cromwell, to almost its greatest height. He burnt nine pirate ships in Tunis Harbour, and after a series of battles and brilliant victories, in which he several times defeated the Dutch under Van Tromp, he carried off the spoil of several rich Spanish plate galleons at Teneriffe. That same year, just as his well-known ship the St. George was entering Plymouth sound, Blake, worn out with toil and disease, breathed his last.
DR. WILLIAM HARVEY.
Born 1578.—Died 1657.—Elizabeth.—James I.—Charles I.
This eminent man of science, born at Folkestone in Kent, was physician extraordinary to James I. and Charles I. He was the first discoverer of the circulation of the blood, but his great modesty of character prevented him from making it known till many years after.
JEREMY TAYLOR.
Born 1613.—Died 1667.—James I.—Charles I.—Charles II.
Born at Cambridge, became Bishop of Down and Connor, in Ireland. He was chaplain to Charles I., and was present during several of his campaigns. After the royal martyr’s death he kept a school in Wales, and there wrote the beautiful devotional works by which his name will be remembered.