Ralph Delaval

Delaval was born at Dissington Hall, Ponteland, an estate he ultimately inherited and sold to Edward Collingwood of Byker in 1673.

[1] His Royal Sovereign log books, written from 1691 to 1693, are preserved in the archives of the New York Public Library.

In 1693, Delaval, along with Henry Killigrew and Cloudesley Shovell replaced Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford as commander-in-chief.

[4] William was forced to dismiss his naval advisor, the Earl of Nottingham, and appointed Russell as the new commander-in-chief.

[4] Shortly thereafter, Delaval was involved in intrigue at the royal court where he was regarded as a possible Jacobite sympathiser and he lost his command.