Johan Puke 1751-1816 (surname pronounced Pooka not rhyming with Duke ) Swedish naval hero. I was put onto this character by a colleague and former Commander in the Swedish Navy,(thanks Gus!) A perhaps lesser known figure historically even in Sweden, not to mention in the English speaking world, however his contribution to Swedish naval history is significant and his bravery, hard to find comparison to, and his meteoric rise unparalleled. His father was tried executed for his part in the conspiracy to increase the power of the then king Adolf Fredrik when the young Johan was only 5 years old. He joined his first ship at the age of 10 as a cabin boy, and at 14 he started his naval training , at 19 he served in the Dutch and then British navies, at 23 he returned to Sweden and was made Lieutenant at 26. After a period in the French navy he became Captain in 1784 at age 33.
During the Russo-Swedish War (1788-1790) Puke became Major, then Lieutenant Colonel. At the Battle of Vyborg the Swedish Navy was blockaded by the Russians and Puke led the breakout after being persuaded by King Gustaf III “Dearest Puke you are my navy’s leader, your father did not refuse to put his neck on the line for my father, save not your life and your courage for me I will never forget”, Puke replied ” Yes, Your majesty, be damned and I’ll go out, but we’ll see how it goes with the other!” He sailed his Ship of the Line Dristigheten(Bravery) at the Russian blockade and managed to get through without major loss, blasting broadsides from port and starboard on his way through the Russian line.
In 1793 he advanced to Colonel and 1794 to Rear-admiral, and 1802 Vice-admiral, 1803 Commanding Admiral in Karlskrona, 1808 Admiral and 1809 Admiral of the Fleet. In the middle of all this promotion 1797 he was given the title Af Puke, which is equivalent to Count in English.
He went on to politics and continued to rise being made General Admiral. He retired in 1815, and died the next year 1816. He was buried near his estate in Blekinge.The was coffin made from the timbers of his Ship of the Line Dristigheten.
An interesting link about the the Swedish Navy of that period can be found here http://www.multi.fi/~goranfri/navalwar.html
Also he’s not a Púca, I expect. Which is a pity.
No relation at all of the Pooka MacPhellimey, a member of the devil class but his surname as pronounced did remind me of Fergus. Or you could be referring to another kind of Púca?
No. That was the very same Pooka I had in mind. I was just trying tp picture your admiral whistling a civil cavatina.