SHOVEL, SIR CLOUDESLEY or CLOWDISLEY SHOVELL as he seems to have spelt the name himself (c. 1650-1707), English admiral, was baptised at Cockthorpe in Norfolk on Nov. 25, 165o, and went to sea under the care of his kinsman Sir Christopher Mynns. He was present as captain of the "Edgar" (7o) at the first fight at Bantry Bay, and shortly afterwards was knighted. In 1690 he convoyed William III. across St. George's Channel to Ireland; the same year he was made rear admiral of the blue, and was present at the battle of Beachy Head on July Ia. In 1692 he was appointed rear-admiral of the red, and joined Admiral Russell, under whom he greatly dis tinguished himself at La Hogue, by being the first to break through the enemy's line. When Russell was superseded, Shovel was put in joint command of the fleet with Admiral Killigrew and Sir Ralph Delaval. In 1702 he brought home the spoils of the French and Spanish fleets from Vigo, after their capture by Sir George Rooke, and in 1704 he served under Rooke in the Mediterranean and co-operated in the taking of Gibraltar. As commander-in
chief of the British fleets he co-operated with Peterborough in the capture of Barcelona in 1705, and commanded the naval part of the unsuccessful attempt on Toulon in October 1707. When returning with the fleet to England his ship, the "Association," struck on the rocks near Scilly (Oct. 22), and was seen by those on board the "St. George" to go down in three or four minutes' time, not a soul being saved of Boo men that were on board. The body of Sir Cloudesley Shovel was cast ashore next day, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.