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This is a British folk ballad collected in the Roud Folk Index as 227. The song is about a true naval event. Admiral John Benbow started out in life as the son of a tanner. He joined the British navy at age 25, and ultimately rose to the rank of admiral - a remarkable feat given his family background.

Early in the War of Spanish Succession, a group of ships commanded by Benbow fought a French naval group in the Caribbean between August 19 and 24, 1702. Although the British group had seven warships to the four of the French, only one of Benbow's commanders would follow his orders and engage the French. Benbow was badly wounded during the engagement and died from his wounds on November 4, 1702 in Kingston, Jamaica. His courage made him a naval hero, particularly among Britain's working class.

Benbow did live long enough to see his cowardly underlinings court-martialled for cowardice. Two of these officers were executed after Benbow's death.

Two different basic set of lyrics are performed as "Admiral Benbow" using the same tune. Moreover, there is considerable lyrical variation within the two sets of lyrics, but all are a commemoration of Benbow's heroism.
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