List of sea captains

Last updated

This is a list of sea captains . The list includes merchant ship's captains as well as naval ship's captains. It is limited to those notable in this role (those who already have Wikipedia articles).

Contents

ImageAboutNationalityMerchantNavalBornDied
WilliamAdams-woodblack-new.svg Adams, William

English navigator who is believed to be the first Briton to reach Japan, becoming a key naval advisor to Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Flag of England.svg  England Yes15641620
Ramonalcarazphil.png Alcaraz, Ramon

A Filipino naval officer decorated for his heroism as part of the Offshore Patrol unit of the U.S. Army Forces (USAFFE) during WW2 and considered to be the father of the Philippine Marine Corps.

Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines Yes19152009
Alexanderson, Leroy

Last captain of SS United States, the biggest ocean liner ever built entirely in the United States and fastest passenger liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean in regular service.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes19102004
Kosaku Aruga.jpg Aruga, Kōsaku

Japanese naval officer who participated in World War II. Known for his participation in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Yes18971945
William Bainbridge.jpg Bainbridge, William

Commodore in the U.S Navy, notable for his victory over HMS Java during the War of 1812.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes17741833
Joshua-barney-circa-1800.jpg Barney, Joshua

Commodore in the U.S Navy who served in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes17591818
James Barron.jpg Barron, James

An American who served in the Virginia State Navy during the last years of the American Revolution and commissioned in the new U.S. Navy.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes17691851
Belles, beaux and brains of the 60's (1909) (14596170630).jpg Barron, Samuel

American naval officer of the U.S. Navy and later Confederate Navy, acting as a representative in Europe for the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Flag of the Confederate States of America (1861-1863).svg  Confederate States of America Yes18091888
John Barry by Gilbert Stuart.jpg Barry, John

Officer in the Continental Navy and later in the U.S. Navy.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes17451803
James D. M. Beebe.jpg Beebe, James.

19th-century American Sandy Hook Pilot. Known for being the longest serving Sandy Hook-New Jersey pilot, having served for 55 years as a Sandy Hook pilot. [1]

Flag of the United States.svg  United States 18271917
Vitus Bering Reconstruction (cropped).jpg Bering, Vitus

Danish-born navigator in the service of the Russian Navy. The first European to discover Alaska. Many geographical features in the area are named for the explorer.

Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Yes16811741
Berwick, Thomas

A third generation Scottish master mariner until he was found guilty of scuttling his ship and sentenced to twenty years transportation in Australia. [2]

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Yes18251891
Captain Phineas Banning Blanchard.jpg Blanchard, Phineas Banning

Among the last of the American merchant trade tall ship sea captains, commanded the barks Herbert Black and Willard Mudget and the ship Bangalore .

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes18791962
Peter Blake at Dunedin airport.jpg Blake, Peter

New Zealand yachtsman who won the Whitbread Race, Jules Verne Trophy, and led New Zealand to successive victories in the America's Cup.

Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 19482001
WilliamBligh.jpeg Bligh, William

Royal Navy officer known for the mutiny that occurred during his command of HMS Bounty. Bligh successfully navigated the ship's launch 6,700km to safety after being set adrift by the mutineers.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Yes17541817
Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra.jpg de la Bodega y Quadra, Juan Francisco

Spanish Criollo naval officer born in Peru. Explored the Northwest Coast of North America as far north as present day Alaska. Bodega Bay is named for him.

Bandera de Espana 1701-1748.svg  Spain Yes17431794
Guillermo Brown, por Henry Herve.jpg Brown, William

Irish-born, "father of the Argentine Navy", victorious in the Independence War, the Cisplatine War, and the Guerra Grande in Uruguay

Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Yes17771857
LC-USZ62-62747 (18130107443).jpg Buchanan, Franklin

American naval officer who served as an admiral in the Confederate Navy during the Civil War, and commanded the ironclad CSS Virginia.

Flag of the Confederate States of America (1861-1863).svg  Confederate States of America Yes18001874
Pedro Alvares Cabral - steel engraving by American Bank Note Company.jpg Cabral, Pedro Álvares

Portuguese explorer and navigator, generally regarded as the European discoverer of Brazil.

Flag Portugal (1495).svg  Portugal Yes14671520
Piero Calamai Andrea Doria.jpg Calamai, Piero

Italian master aboard SS Andrea Doria at time of her fatal collision with MS Stockholm.

Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Yes19011972
Campbell, Peter

Irish-born founder of the Uruguayan Navy.

Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay Yes17801832
Gordon Chung-Hoon.jpg Chung-Hoon, Gordon

Chinese/Hawaiian-American naval officer. First Asian-American to obtain flag rank. Distinguished for his command of USS Sigsbee in WW2 and honored with an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer named in his honor.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes19101979
Colomb.jpeg Columbus, Christopher

Genoese navigator, colonizer, and explorer whose voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, on behalf of Spain, led to general European awareness of the Americas.

Flag of Genoa.svg  Genoa Yes14511506
Andrew Jackson Comstock.jpg Comstock, Andrew

19th-century maritime pilot best known for the captain of Columbia and Magic in the America's Cup. [3]

Flag of the United States.svg  United States 18281910
Captainjamescookportrait.jpg Cook, James

British explorer, cartographer and naval officer famous for his pioneering voyages in the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand, Australia, and Hawaii.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain YesYes17281779
Captain Thomas Cooper.jpg Cooper, Thomas

19th-century American maritime pilot best known for piloting battleships built at the Boston Navy Yard on their initial seatrials.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States 18331906
William Hogarth 053.jpg Coram, Thomas

Sea captain who later operated a ship building business at Taunton, Massachusetts.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Yes16681751
WilliamBCushing.jpg Cushing, William

American naval officer, best known for sinking the Confederate ironclad CSS Albemarle, a feat for which he received the thanks of Congress.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes18421874
Charles Bird King - Stephen Decatur - NPG.87.26 - National Portrait Gallery.jpg Decatur, Stephen

American naval officer notable for his heroism in the First and Second Barbary Wars, and in the War of 1812. The youngest man to reach the rank of captain in the U.S. Navy.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes17791820
Đỗ, Kiếm

South Vietnamese naval officer who secretly organised the evacuation of over 30,000 refugees aboard 32 South Vietnamese navy ships during the Fall of Saigon, preventing those ships from falling into the hands of North Vietnamese.

Flag of South Vietnam.svg Republic of Vietnam Yes1933
1590 or later Marcus Gheeraerts, Sir Francis Drake Buckland Abbey, Devon.jpg Drake, Francis

English privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. Known for circumnavigating the globe in command of Golden Hind.

Flag of England.svg  England YesYesca. 15401595
Henry Raeburn (1756-1823) (style of) - Captain George Duff (1764-1805) - BHC2666 - Royal Museums Greenwich.jpg Duff, George

Distinguished British naval officer of the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Yes17641805
Leif Erikson Statue, Duluth (15290644106).jpg Erikson, Leif

Norse explorer thought to be the first European to set foot on continental North America, prior to Christopher Columbus.

Raven Banner.svg Norse c. 970c. 1025
Admiral Farragut2.jpg Farragut, David

American naval officer, the first admiral in the United States Navy. He is remembered for his order at the Battle of Mobile Bay, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead".

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes18011870
Elcano.jpg Elcano, Juan Sebastián

Spanish Basque navigator and explorer best known for taking command and completing the first circumnavigation of the world following Magellan's demise.

Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg  Spain Yes14761526
Robert Fitzroy.jpg FitzRoy, Robert

British captain of HMS Beagle during Charles Darwin's famous voyage, and as a pioneering meteorologist who revolutionized the art of weather forecasting.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Yes18051865
Captain George Flavel portrait.jpg Flavel, George

One of the first licensed marine pilots in the state of Oregon. Flavel would go on to amass a fortune with a business managing pilot boats on the Columbia River.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States 18501893
Charles Fryatt IWM Q 066269.jpg Fryatt, Charles

Master of the Great Eastern Railway's steamship Brussels, and he was shot by the Germans in 1916 after he used his ship to try and ram U-33.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Yes18721916
Gregorio Lopes - Vasco da Gama (ca 1524).jpg da Gama, Vasco

Portuguese explorer, one of the most successful in the European Age of Discovery and the commander of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India.

Flag Portugal (1495).svg  Portugal Yesca. 1460–14691524
Garibaldi (1866).jpg Garibaldi, Giuseppe

Italian patriot, Italian shipmaster, merchant marine deep-sea captain, soldier of the Risorgimento with the rank of Army General. Famous as "The heroe of two worlds".

Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Yes18071882
Minoru Genda.jpg Genda, Minoru

Japanese naval officer during World War II, and was considered one of the most successful naval strategists of the Imperial Japanese Navy, including that of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Yes19041989
Captain Richard Hall Gower (1768-1833) SFK CCM R 1966 7.jpg Gower, Richard Hall

English mariner, empirical philosopher, nautical inventor, entrepreneur, and humanitarian.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Yes17681833
Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely, Jr.jpg Gravely, Samuel

American naval officer. The first African American in the U.S. Navy to command a Navy ship, the first fleet commander, and the first to become a flag officer, retiring as a vice admiral.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes19222004
Greenlaw, Linda

American author and at the time, the only female swordfishing boat captain on the East Coast of the United States. She was featured in the 1997 book The Perfect Storm and the film The Perfect Storm.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes1960
Guan Tianpei.jpg Guan, Tianpei

Chinese admiral of the Qing dynasty and "Commander-in-Chief of Naval Forces". Established courteous relations with British Rear-Admiral Frederick Maitland. Fought in the First and Second Battle of Chuenpi, and the Battle of the Bogue.

Flag of the Qing Dynasty (1889-1912).svg  Qing dynasty Yes17811841
Halpin Memorial Medal.png Halpin, Robert

Captained the Brunel-designed leviathan SS Great Eastern, which laid transoceanic telegraph cables in the late 19th century.

Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Yes18361894
TameichiHara.jpg Hara, Tameichi

Japanese naval commander during the Pacific War and the author of the IJN manual on torpedo attack techniques.

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Yes19001980
Mochitsura Hashimoto.jpg Hashimoto, Mochitsura

Commander of the Japanese submarine I-58 which sank USS Indianapolis, the single greatest disaster in US naval history.

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Yes19092000
Hazelwood, Joseph

Captain of Exxon Valdez at the time of its 1989 oil spill.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes1946
Michael A. Healy.jpg Healy, Michael A.

American Captain of the United States Revenue Cutter Service and the first African-American to command a ship of the United States government.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes18391904
Hirose Takeo.jpg Hirose, Takeo

Japanese naval officer during the Russo-Japanese War whose sacrifice elevated him to the status of national hero.

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Yes18681904
Joseph Henderson.jpg Henderson, Joseph

19th-century American harbor pilot who guided large vessels into and out of New York Harbor as a Sandy Hook pilot. [4]

Flag of the United States.svg  United States 18261890
PSM V75 D318 Henry Hudson.png Hudson, Henry

English sea explorer and navigator, best known for his explorations of present-day Canada and the northeastern United States. Numerous geographical features have been named for him.

Flag of England.svg  England Yes~15651611
1814 IsaacHull Polyanthos.png Hull, Isaac

American naval officer who distinguished himself as XO aboard the frigate Constitution in the Quasi-War with France, and later as commander during her battle with HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States YesYes17731843
Johnson, Irving

An American sail training pioneer, adventurer, lecturer and writer, best known for his film Around Cape Horn, and seven circumavigations of the world, each time with an amateur crew of students.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States YesYes19051991
Jones, Christopher

English captain of the 1620 voyage of the Pilgrim ship Mayflower to establish the Plymouth Colony.

Flag of England.svg  England Yesc. 15701622
British School - Captain George Johnstone (1730-1787) - BHC2808 - Royal Museums Greenwich.jpg Johnstone, George

British mariner and naval officer, later serving as Member of Parliament.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain YesYes17301787
Catesby ap Roger Jones.png Jones, Catesby ap Roger

American naval officer who joined the Confederate Navy during the American Civil War.

Flag of the Confederate States of America (1861-1863).svg  Confederate States of America Yes18211887
Captain John Paul Jones, Continental Navy.jpg Jones, John Paul

Scottish sailor and the United States' first well-known naval officer during the American Revolution.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States YesYes17471792
Thomas ap Catesby Jones 1829.jpg Jones, Thomas ap Catesby

American naval officer during the War of 1812 and the Mexican–American War. Distinguished for his bravery during the Battle of Lake Borgne.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes17901858
Piet de Jong in uniform (cropped).jpg Jong, Piet de

Decorated Dutch naval officer and submarine commander during World War II. Later served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands.

Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Yes19152016
Kapahulehua, Kawika

Hawaiian sailor who was the first to captain the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa from Hawaii to Tahiti using only traditional navigation techniques.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes19302007
Sheng Hai Zhou .jpg Kaishū, Katsu

Japanese naval officer and statesman during the end of the Tokugawa shogunate into the Meiji restoration.

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Yes18231899
Kelley, Beverly

American Coast Guard officer who was the first woman appointed to command an American military vessel, the patrol boat USCGC Cape Newagen, in 1979.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes~1954
Khuong-1970.JPG Khương, Hữu Bá

Highly decorated South Vietnamese naval officer with numerous "command-at-sea" posts, including accepting and delivering the first Vietnamese Navy ship across the Pacific from the US.

Flag of South Vietnam.svg Republic of Vietnam Yes19302015
James Killick.jpg Killick, James

Captain of the tea clipper Challenger and founder of the firm Killick Martin & Company. He became affectionately known as the ‘China Bird’ and the ‘Admiral’.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom YesNo18161889
AlmiranteCoundouritis--inheartofgermani00vaka.jpg Kountouriotis, Pavlos

Greek naval admiral and commander of the Hellenic Navy during the Balkan Wars and World War I, Later became the first and third President of Greece.

Flag of Greece.svg  Greece Yes18551935
Kukiyoshitaka2.jpg Kuki, Yoshitaka

Japanese naval commander during Japan's Sengoku Period, under Oda Nobunaga, and later, Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Yes15421600
Geoje HuengNam Retreat Memorial Tower.jpg LaRue, Leonard

American captain of the SS Meredith Victory , a U.S. Merchant Marine cargo ship that evacuated over 14,000 refugees during the Korean War, the largest humanitarian rescue operation by a single ship in history.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes19142001
WilliamLeLacheur.jpg Le Lacheur, William

Sea captain from Guernsey widely credited as having transformed the economy of Costa Rica by establishing the Costa Rican coffee trade.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Yes18021863
William Ladd c1830.jpg Ladd, William

American anti-war activist and New England sea captain who devoted his pen to preaching non-resistance during the War of 1812.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes17781841
JamesLawrenceATcommons.jpg Lawrence, James

American naval hero. During the War of 1812, he commanded USS Chesapeake against HMS Shannon. Best known today for his dying command "Don't give up the ship!".

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes17811813
Don Blas de Lezo -Museo Naval-.jpg De Lezo, Blas

A Spanish naval officer best remembered for the Battle of Cartagena de Indias where Spanish forces under his command decisively defeated a large British invasion.

Bandera de Espana 1701-1748.svg  Spain Yes16891741
Luckner.png von Luckner, Felix

A German nobleman, naval officer, author, and sailor who earned the epithet Der Seeteufel (the Sea Devil) for his exploits in command of the sailing commerce raider SMS Seeadler (Sea Eagle) during the First World War.

Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire Yes18811966
Captain Thomas Macdonough, U.S.N..jpg Macdonough, Thomas

American naval officer. Macdonough's actions during the decisive Battle of Lake Champlain are often cited as a model of tactical preparation and execution.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States YesYes17831825
Retrato de Hernando de Magallanes.jpg Magellan, Ferdinand

Portuguese maritime explorer who led the first circumnavigational expedition, and located the eponymous Strait of Magellan. He was also the first European to reach the Philippines.

Flag Portugal (1495).svg  Portugal Yes14801521
Bankichi.jpg Matsuoka, Bankichi

Japanese naval officer in the Tokugawa Navy during the Boshin War, serving as Captain of the Japanese warship Banryū during the Battle of Hakodate.

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Yes18411871
Maynard, Robert

British naval officer best known for defeating the pirate Blackbeard by luring him to board an unarmed sloop with most of his crew hidden below deck.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Yes16841751
Philo Norton McGiffin.jpg McGiffen, Philo

American naval officer who served in Chinese service as a naval advisor during the First Sino-Japanese War. He proved a talented tactician during the Battle of the Yalu as well being as the first American to command a modern battleship in wartime.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes18601897
McGrath, Kathleen A.

American naval officer who was the first woman to command a U.S. Navy ship as commander of USS Recovery in 1993. In 1998, she was appointed commander of USS Jarrett , one of the first women to command a combat ship in the U.S. Navy.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes19522002
Hugh Mulzac.jpg Mulzac, Hugh

First African American to command a vessel in the United States Merchant Marine.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes18861971
Gloucester MA - Fisherman's Memorial.jpg Murphy, Richard

New England fishing schooner captain, noted for surviving a series of close calls at sea.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes18381916
Naihe Kukui.jpg Naihekukui

Known as "Captain Jack" or "Jack the Pilot" to visitors, served as Honolulu harbor master and admiral of the royal fleet in the early Kingdom of Hawaii.

Flag of Hawaii.svg  Hawaii Yesc. 1790s1825
HoratioNelson1.jpg Nelson, Horatio

British naval officer known for his leadership, strategy, and unconventional tactics during the Napoleonic Wars. Widely regarded as one of the greatest naval commanders in history.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Yes17581805
William Nelson.jpg Nelson, William

U.S. Navy officer and later a Union general in the American Civil War. He holds the distinction of being the only naval officer to achieve the rank of major general on either side of the Civil War.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes18241862
PeterdeNeumann-Vigilant.jpg de Neumann, Bernard Peter

Awarded a George Medal for his actions during an air attack by the Luftwaffe; Convicted of piracy by Vichy French; Instigator and overseer of the installation of the Thames Navigation Service.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom YesYes19171972
Christopher Newport statue.jpg Newport, Christopher

English seaman and privateer. Captain of the Susan Constant and commander of the 1607 Virginia Company voyage to establish the first North American settlement at Jamestown.

Flag of England.svg  England Yes15611617
Fred Noonan (cropped).jpg Noonan, Fred

British-American merchant mariner and Royal Navy officer, working his way up from ordinary seaman to merchant captain. Later worked as a flight navigator and disappeared with Amelia Earhart during their World Flight.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States YesYes18931937
Oxilia, Italo

Antifascist boat captain that rescued Italian Resistance members and politicians from Fascist Italy

Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Yes18871971
Piloto Pardo.jpeg Pardo, Luis

Captain of the Chilean steam tug Yelcho which rescued the 22 stranded crewmen of Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship Endurance from Antarctica.

Flag of Chile.svg  Chile Yes18821935
Captain John Parker, Whaling Master (1800-1867).jpg Parker, John

One of the most successful arctic whalers to sail from Hull in the nineteenth century and for many years captain of the whale ship Truelove.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Yes18001867
Sir Richard Pearson.jpg Pearson, Richard

British naval officer who was captain of HMS Serapis during the American Revolution. He was defeated by John Paul Jones in a pivotal battle.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Yes17311806
Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth by James Northcote.jpg Pellew, Edward

British naval officer. Fought during the American and French Revolutionary Wars. Pellew makes a fictional appearances in the Horatio Hornblower novels.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Yes17571833
Matthew C. Perry 1855-56.jpg Perry, Matthew

American naval officer who compelled the opening of Japan to the West with the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes17941858
Captain Oliver Hazard Perry, Portrait in oils by Edward L. Mooney.jpg Perry, Oliver Hazard

American naval officer who served in the War of 1812 and earned the nickname "Hero of Lake Erie" for leading American forces in a decisive naval victory at the Battle of Lake Erie.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes17851819
RichardPhillips.jpg Phillips, Richard

U.S. merchant mariner, shipmaster and author, who served as captain aboard MV Maersk Alabama during its hijacking by Somali pirates in April 2009.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes1955
Mau Piailug.gif Piailug, Mau

Micronesian fisherman and navigator from Satawal, best known as a teacher of traditional, non-instrument wayfinding methods for open-ocean voyaging, sparking a Hawaiian cultural renaissance and ultimately preserving the art of Polynesian navigation.

Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia.svg  Federated States of Micronesia 19322010
Prat01.jpg Prat, Arturo

Captain of Esmeralda, Prat was killed shortly after boarding the Peruvian armored monitor Huáscar at the Naval Battle of Iquique.

Flag of Chile.svg  Chile Yes18481879
Edward Preble.jpg Preble, Edward

Officer in the United States Navy and United States Merchant Marine, participated in the Revolutionary War, the Quasi-War with France, and the First Barbary War.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States YesYes17611807
Sir Walter Ralegh by 'H' monogrammist.jpg Raleigh, Walter

English sailor, writer and explorer. North American explorer, confidant of Elizabeth I, builder of the English galleon, Ark Royal.

Flag of England.svg  England YesYes15521618
Samuel Chester Reid.jpg Reid, Samuel Chester

American naval officer during the War of 1812. Commanded the privateer General Armstrong and engaged gunboats from British en route to Jamaica and New Orleans.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States YesYes17831861
Rinnan, Arne

Norwegian captain of the MV Tampa who defied Australian government demands during the Tampa Affair, was later awarded the Nansen Refugee Award and the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit.

Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Yes1940
Commodore John Rodgers.jpg Rodgers, John (War of 1812)

American naval officer who served in the United States Navy from its organization in the 1790s through the late 1830s. His service included the Quasi-War with France and the War of 1812.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes17721838
John Rodgers.jpg Rodgers, John (Civil War)

Son of the above John Rodgers, also with a long career of distinguished service, commanding an expedition of Naval Infantry and Marines in Florida during the Seminole Wars and the North Pacific Exploring and Surveying Expedition.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes18121882
Ross, Eliza Ann (née McGray)

Wife of Captain David Larkin Ross aboard the "Reform" enroute to Buenos Aires, successfully assumed command of the ship upon David's death. Her brief command made her one of America's first female ship captains.

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 18491940
Captain Rostron.jpg Rostron, Arthur

British captain for the Cunard Line and master of RMS Carpathia during her rescue RMS Titanic survivors. Rostron was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal and Order of the British Empire for his efforts, and was eventually made Commodore of the Cunard fleet.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Yes18691940
Tsutomu Sakuma.jpg Sakuma, Tsutomi

Japanese naval officer who served during the Russo-Japanese War and one of the first submarine commanders of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Yes18791910
Schettino, Francesco

Captain of the ill fated cruise ship Costa Concordia.

Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Yes1960
Seyburn, Isaac D.

Welsh-American merchant captain who served as a naval officer during the American Civil War. Commanded the schooner USS Kittatinny as part of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron under David Farragut.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States YesYes18241895
EdwardHobartSeymour.jpg Seymour, Edward Hobart

British Admiral of the Fleet. Took part in the capture of Canton and the attack on the Taku forts. Appointed commander-in-chief of the China Station, lead the Naval Brigade in the relief of Peking during the Boxer Rebellion.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Yes18401929
Shchetinina, Anna

Soviet merchant marine captain, often said to be the first western woman captain of an ocean-going ship

Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union YesNo19081999
Zheng Yi Sao .jpg Shi, Yang

Chinese pirate who took control of her husband's pirate confederation with personal command of 24 ships and over 1,400 pirates at the time of her retirement. Considered not only history's most successful female pirate, but one of the most successful pirates in history.

Flag of the Qing Dynasty (1889-1912).svg Qing dynasty 17751844
Siddins, Richard

Captain of Campbell Macquarie and one of the earliest and best known merchant ship captains sailing out of Port Jackson.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom YesYes17701846
Robert Smalls - Brady-Handy.jpg Smalls, Robert

An African-American born into slavery in South Carolina, worked as a deckhand aboard CSS Planter . Commandeered the vessel and piloted it to Union lines. Then served as a pilot and captain in the Union Navy.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes18391915
EJ Smith.jpg Smith, Edward

Captain of RMS Titanic. Joined the White Star Shipping Line in March 1880 where he quickly rose in stature. Received his first White Star command, SS Republic in 1887.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom YesYes18501912
Smith, William

Captain of the brig Williams, when passing around Cape Horn he encountered strong headwinds and ventured south, discovering the South Shetland Islands, and later sighted the Antarctic.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Yes17791847
Sohn Won Yil 1948.png Sohn, Won-yil

South Korean merchant mariner who organized the Korean coast guard, providing the groundwork to stand up a Navy at the start of the Korean War, becoming the first Chief of Naval Operations and founder of the Republic of Korea Navy.

Flag of Korea (1899).svg  Korea YesYes19091980
Robert F. Stockton.jpg Stockton, Robert Field

American naval officer, notable in the capture of California during the Mexican–American War. Later served as a U.S. Senator.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes17951866
Robert Surcouf-A Maurin-1835.png Surcouf, Robert

Captain and ship owner from St. Malo. Notable as French corsair during the Napoleonic Wars.

Flag of France.svg  France YesYes17731823
Wilhelm-von-Tegehthoff-1866.jpg von Tegetthoff, Wilhelm

Austrian Captain and Fleet Commander of the Austro-Hungarian Fleet. Considered one of the prominent naval commanders of the 19th century, Tegetthoff was known for his innovative tactics as well as his inspirational leadership.

Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg  Austrian Empire Yes18271871
Togo Heihachiro.jpg Tōgō, Heihachirō

One of Japan's greatest naval heroes known as "the Nelson of the East". As Commander-in-Chief during the Russo-Japanese War, he successfully routed Russian naval forces at Port Arthur and Tsushima.

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Yes18481934
Thomas Truxtun.jpg Truxton, Thomas

American naval officer who operating as a privateer during the American Revolution, commanding several ships. After the war, he returned to the merchant marine, and in commanded one of the first American ships to engage in trade with China.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States YesYes15911659
Tyrrell, Kate

Irish captain of the schooner Denbighshire Lass. After inheriting her father's shipping company in the 1880s, Tyrrell fought to have her name on the documents of ownership for the schooner. Her career as sea captain spanned over twenty years, and Denbighshire Lass was the first ship to fly the Irish tricolour flag at a foreign port.

Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Yes18631921
Angus Walters (cropped).jpg Walters, Angus

Fishing schooner captain out of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. He was a highliner fishing captain and captain of the schooner Bluenose, winning multiple races for the International Fisherman's Trophy.

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Yes18811968
Welch, Martin

Fishing schooner captain from Gloucester, Massachusetts. He was captain of the schooner Esperanto in 1920 when it defeated the Canadian schooner Delawana in the first International Fishing Schooner Championship Races in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Yes18641935
Charles-Wilkes.jpg Wilkes, Charles

American naval officer and explorer. He is particularly noted for his 1838–1842 Pacific expedition as well as for his role in the Trent Affair during the Civil War.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes17981877
Winslow, Perry

Captain of the whaling vessels Phoenix and Edward Cary.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes18151890
Woodget, Richard

English sea captain, known as the master of the sailing clipper Cutty Sark during her most successful period of service in the wool trade between Australia and the United Kingdom.

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Yes18451928
John m whitall.jpg Whitall, John M.

Prominent Sea Captain, businessman and philanthropist in New Jersey and Pennsylvania involved in the spice and silk trade, Glass-making, and missionary work.

Flag of the United States.svg  United States Yes18001877
isunsin.jpg Yi, Sun-sin

Korean admiral famed for his victories against the Japanese during the Imjin war. A brilliant naval strategist, Yi perfected use of the turtle ships and used sea tides and narrow straits to his advantage.

Flag of Korea (1856).svg Joseon dynasty Korea Yes13711433
Zheng He.jpg Zheng, He

Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat and fleet admiral, who commanded Ming China's treasure voyages from 1405 to 1433.

Ming dynasty Yes13711433
Koxinga and Zheng Zhilong.jpg Zheng, Zhilong

Chinese admiral, merchant, and pirate. Fluent in Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese. Worked with the Dutch East India Company, as a privateer overseeing an armada of four hundred junks and tens of thousands of men, controlling all shipping in the South China Sea.

Ming dynasty YesYes16041661
ImageAboutNationalityMerchantNavalBornDied

Fictional sea captains

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References

  1. Allen, Edward L. (1922). Pilot Lore; From Sail to Steam, and Historical Sketches of the Various Interests Identified With the Development of the World's Greatest Port. The United New York and New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots Benevolent Associations.
  2. "Thomas Berwick". Convict Records. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  3. Shaw, David W. (2004). America's Victory: The Heroic Story of a Team of Ordinary Americans. Sheridan House. p. 89. ISBN   9781574091878 . Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  4. "Captain Joseph Henderson Dead". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. New York. October 9, 1890. Retrieved September 24, 2021 via bklyn.newspapers.com.