Richard Carter

Richard Carter (died 1692) was an English officer in the Royal Navy. He is said to have been lieutenant of the Cambridge in 1672, with Captain Herbert, and to have been promoted from her by Prince Rupert to command the Success, from which, early in 1673, he was moved to the Crown. In April 1675 he was appointed to the Swan, and in January 1678 was moved into the Centurion, which was employed in the Mediterranean against the Barbary corsairs. In August 1688 he was appointed to the Plymouth, continued in her during and after the Glorious Revolution, and commanded her in the Battle of Beachy Head. During the summer of 1691 he commanded the Vanguard, and early in the following year was promoted to be rear-admiral of the Blue squadron. In April 1692 he was sent with a few ships to scour the coast of France and survey La Hague, and returned to the fleet in time to take part in the Battle of Barfleur. At the start of the action a light wind kept Carter's Blue squadron away from the rest of the fleet; but later a shift of wind brought his ships among the French, and he was killed in the fighting. Carter was buried at Portsmouth with ceremonial honour. He had been lieutenant-governor of Southsea Castle since 1682. Allegations of Jacobite leanings were made against him, but never proved.