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Description area
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History
Legge served with his cousin, Sir Edward Spragge (d 1673), in the Second Dutch War, 1665 to 1667. During the Third Dutch War, 1672 to 1674, he was Captain of the FAIRFAX, under Sir Robert Holmes (1622-1692) and took part in the battle of Solebay, 1672. In 1673, he commanded the ROYAL KATHERINE, under Prince Rupert (1619-1682). He held various posts in the household of the Duke of York and was Lieutenant-Governor, then Governor, of Portsmouth from 1670 to 1682, when he was appointed Master-General of the Ordnance; he was created Baron Dartmouth in the same year. In 1683 he was sent to Tangier to supervise the evacuation. After the accession of James II in 1685, he was appointed Admiral of the Fleet in 1688, in the hope that he would be able to use the fleet to prevent the invasion of the Prince of Orange. This he was unable to do and he took the oath of allegiance to William and Mary in 1689. In 1691 he was accused of plotting on behalf of the exiled James and died while imprisoned in the Tower of London.