David Mitchell

Rear-Admiral of the Red Sir David Mitchell ( – 1 June 1710) was a Royal Navy officer and courtier who served as the Black Rod from 1698 to 1710.

Early life

David Mitchell was born . He came from humble origins, being descended from, as John Charnock put it, a family "more distinguished for their integrity than their riches". When he was sixteen years old, his father apprenticed him to the master of a trading vessel from Leith. Having served this apprenticeship, he acted as mate aboard various vessels engaged in the Baltic trade.

Naval career

On the outbreak of the Third Anglo-Dutch War in 1672, he was impressed into the Royal Navy. He is recorded serving as a midshipman aboard the in the Mediterranean from 31 October 1673 to 15 October 1674, under the captaincy of Edward Russell. He followed Russell to the in 1676, and participated in his voyage to Newfoundland. hoisting his flag aboard the to escort the king to Holland. He then joined the main fleet under the admirals Cloudesley Shovell, Ralph Delaval and Henry Killigrew with his flag raised onboard the . By 1694 Mitchell had been promoted to Rear-Admiral of the Red, and he was knighted by William III, apparently informally, in before joining Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford's grand fleet. Mitchell was officially made a Knight Bachelor at Kensington on 6 December 1698.

Later life and death

Mitchell served as a Commissioner of the Admiralty from 1699 to 1702 and a member of the Lord High Admiral's council from 1702 to 1708. He obtained numerous royal honours and appointments, including that of Black Rod. Because of his naval knowledge, he became a close professional friend of Tsar Peter the Great. Mitchell's coat of arms are stated by De Neve to be appropriated for his tomb without justification from the Mitchells of Tillygrieg ('he bears arms, but hath no right', citing his humble background). During the Grand Embassy of Peter the Great from 1697 to 1699, Mitchell captained the flagship York, which brought Peter to England. During the voyage the Tsar was given instruction on ship handling by Mitchell, mostly in Dutch since they were both fluent in it. At the Tsar's request, Mitchell was assigned as his official escort and translator during the nearly six months Peter was in London.