Sir Richard Greenvill was Vice-Admiral under Lord Thomas Howard, son to the Duke of Norfolk, who was sent with a squadron of seven ships to America, to intercept the Spanish galleons laden with treasure from the West-Indies, Sir Richard, who happened to be separated from the rest of the squadron, unfortunately, fell in with the enemy's fleet of fifty-two sail, which he engaged and repulsed fifteen times. He continued fighting till he was covered with blood and wounds, and nothing remained of his ship but a battered hulk. He died on board the Spanish fleet three days after, expressing the highest satisfaction at the moment of death, at his having acted as a true sailor ought to have done. He was the grandfather of the famous Sir Bevil Greenvill.