Sir John, a British naval commander, was sprung from an old Norfolk family, and became lieutenant of the "Portland" in 1664. His first engagement was in the contest of June 1666, between Prince Rupert and Monk on the one side, and the Dutch admirals Van Tromp and De Ruyter on the other. His conduct in this hotly-contested action was the cause of his rapid promotion. Before two years had passed he was captain of the "Assurance," and in 1669 he was appointed to command an expedition of discovery to the South Seas. Two years were spent in this voyage. In the following year his courage and ability were again conspicuous at the naval battle of Solebay, and recommended him to the notice of the government. He was soon afterwards promoted to the rank of rear-admiral, and dignified with a knighthood. The great honour of his life, however, was his appointment to the command of the fleet sent in 1675 to suppress the Tripolitan pirates. After routing several corsairs, and chasing others into their ports, he arrived before Tripoli at the beginning of 1676. Lieutenant Cloudesley Shovel was despatched to negotiate with the Dey, and at the same time to make observations on the harbour. The attempt at negotiation failed, but the position of the shipping was ascertained. Accordingly, at midnight on the 4th March, the boats of the British fleet entered the harbour, burnt the Tripolitan ships, and returned without the loss of a single man. This bold stroke frightened the Dey into agreeing to a treaty. Scarcely had Sir John Narborough returned home, than he was sent with a squadron on a similar expedition against the Algerines. He committed great havoc among these incorrigible pirates, turned his guns against their capital, and forced them to come to an agreement. No sooner, however, had the admiral sailed out of sight, than the Dey of Tripoli and Algiers both returned to their old piratical practices. Soon after his return to England, Sir John was appointed a commissioner of the navy, a post which he held till his death in 1688. (Allen's Battles of the British Navy.)