Kenelm Digby, Sir
Kenelm Digby, Sir
Physicist, naval commander, and diplomatist, son of Sir Everard Digby , born Gayhurst, England , 11 July 1603 ; died Covent Garden, England , 11 June 1665 . He was knighted, 1623 , and in 1628 defeated the French and Venetian galleys at Iskanderun, in a privateering expedition. In 1642 he was imprisoned for the Faith and then exiled to France , where he wrote two philosophical works. He returned to England and became intimate with Cromwell , who employed him abroad on several missions.