William Borough

William Borough
Born	1536
Died	1599
Allegiance	England
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Commands held	Bonavolia

William Borough (1536–1599) was a British naval officer who was Comptroller of the Navy and the younger brother of Stephen Borough. He participated in the British attack on Cádiz in 1587.^[1] He was responsible for the drawing of several early maps including one of Russia.^[2]

Early life[edit]

Borough was born at Borough House, Northam Burrows, Northam, Devon, and his childhood experiences of voyages were those accompanying his older brother Stephen Borough and their uncle John Borough.^[3] In 1580 Borough was appointed Comptroller of the Navy, which post he shared initially with William Holstocke.^[3] In June 1583 he took ten pirate ships into custody and ensured that all ten masters were hanged at Wapping.^[3] In 1587 he sailed with Sir Francis Drake and was indicted for mutiny and cowardice but later acquitted and given command of the galley Bonavolia.^[3]

Family[edit]

In 1571 he married Judith Jones; they had one son and one daughter.^[3] He later married Lady Jane Wentworth.^[3]

Works[edit]

• A Discourse of the Variation of the Cumpas or Magneticall Needle (1581) – Internet Archive (bound with New Attractive by Robert Norman)

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Works by William Borough at Biodiversity Heritage Library