Deal Castle is a defensive artillery fortress in Deal, Kent, England, which was built in 1540 by order of Henry VIII. The successive Captains of Deal Castle originally commanded a garrison based at the fortress, initially from quarters within the keep but later from purpose built quarters in a block between the keep and the outer wall. The accommodation block was demolished and rebuilt in 1802 and demolished a second time in 1943 following enemy action during the Second World War.[1]
From the early 1700s the post of Captain became an honorary position benefitting from the residential accommodation provided by the castle's living quarters. After the wartime demolition the accommodation was provided elsewhere.
Captains were as follows:[2]
| Appointed | Incumbent | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1540 | Thomas Wingfield | First incumbent | |
| 1551 | Thomas Boys | ||
| 1569 | John Baker | ||
| 1572 | Peter Hammond | ||
| 1599 | Matthew Bredgate | ||
| 1611 | Erasmus Finch | ||
| 1611 | William Byng | Removed as a suspected Royalist[3] | |
| 1642 | William Batten | Parliamentarian, who replaced Byng at the outbreak of the First English Civil War | |
| 1648 | Col. Thomas Rainsborough | ||
| 1648 | Capt. Wyne | ||
| 1648 | Maj. Samuel Kemm | ||
| 1648 | Col. Nathaniel Rich | Parliamentarian commander who recaptured the castle in August, 1648 | |
| 1653 | Samuel Taverner | Replaced Rich, who was removed due to his opposition to The Protectorate | |
| 1660 | William Byng | Returned to office following the Stuart Restoration | |
| 1661 | |||
| 1671 | Capt. Francis Digby | ||
| 1672 | Francis Hawley, 1st Baron Hawley | ||
| 1673 | Sir John Berry | ||
| 1690 | Lt. Col. Sir John Granville | ||
| 1690 | Sir Francis Wheler | Died in office, 1694 | |
| 1745 | Died 1749 | ||
| 1777 | |||
| 1786 | |||
| 1802 | |||
| 1838 | The Lord Maryborough | ||
| 1843 | The Earl of Dalhousie | ||
| 1847 | The Earl of Clanwilliam | ||
| 1879 | The Earl Sydney | ||
| 1890 | The Lord Herschell | ||
| 1899 | Rt. Hon. Lord George Hamilton | ||
| 1923 | Field Marshal The Earl of Ypres | ||
| 1925 | Field Marshal The Lord Allenby | ||
| 1927 | |||
| 1934 | Field Marshal The Lord Birdwood | ||
| 1951 | Position vacant | ||
| 1972 | |||
| 1980 | Maj. Gen. Ian Harrison | ||
| 2008 | Henceforth tied to the appointment of the Commandant General Royal Marines[4] | ||