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.
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.
List of captains Captains were as follows: AppointedIncumbentNotes1540 Thomas Wingfield First incumbent1551 Thomas Boys 1569 John Baker 1572 Peter Hammond 1599 Matthew Bredgate 1611 Erasmus Finch 1611 William Byng Removed as a suspected Royalist1642 William Batten Parliamentarian, who replaced Byng at the outbreak of the First English Civil War1648 Col. Thomas Rainsborough Parliamentarian; replaced after its Parliamentarian garrison switched sides during the Second English Civil War 1648 Capt. Wyne 1648 Maj. Samuel Kemm 1648 Col. Nathaniel Rich Parliamentarian commander who recaptured the castle in August, 16481653 Samuel Taverner Replaced Rich, who was removed due to his opposition to The Protectorate1660 William Byng Returned to office following the Stuart Restoration1661 Col. Silius Titus 1671 Capt. Francis Digby 1672 Francis Hawley, 1st Baron Hawley1673 Sir John Berry1690 Lt. Col. Sir John Granville1690 Sir Francis Wheler Died in office, 16941745 John Norris Died 17491777 Francis Osborne, Marquess of Carmarthen 1786 George North, Baron North 1802 Robert Smith, 1st Baron Carrington 1838 William Wellesley Pole, 1st Baron Maryborough1843 James Broun-Ramsay, 10th Earl of Dalhousie1847 Richard Meade, 3rd Earl of Clanwilliam1879 John Townshend, 1st Earl Sydney1890 Farrer Herschell, 1st Baron Herschell1899 Lord George Hamilton1923 Field Marshal John French, 1st Earl of Ypres1925 Field Marshal Edmund Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby1927 Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading 1934 Field Marshal William Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood1951 Position vacant1972 General Sir Norman Tailyour 1980 Maj. Gen. Ian Harrison2008 Maj. Gen. Garry Robison Henceforth tied to the appointment of the Commandant General Royal Marines
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