# Sir William Batten — The Diary character guide > Sir William Batten in The Diary by Samuel Pepys. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Sir W. Batten, Batten, W. Batten **First appearance:** 0003-january-1659-60 ## Snapshot A senior naval commissioner whose hearty dinners and sharp elbows make him both a neighbourly colleague and a persistent rival at the Navy Office. ## Who they are Batten sits alongside Pepys at the office, dispensing beef, drink, and gossip while quietly resenting the younger man's rise. Pepys records his hospitality and his scheming in the same breath, noting how Batten's factional manoeuvres and self-interest complicate every board meeting. He embodies the old guard Pepys must work with and outlast, and his presence sharpens the diary's portrait of office politics. ## Relationships ### [Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/characters/edward_montagu_earl_of_sandwich) _professional_ Lord Sandwich and Sir William Batten were fellow Navy Board officials, often cooperating but with underlying tensions. ### [Sir William Penn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/characters/sir_william_penn) _professional_ Both were senior Navy Board members and colleagues, frequently working together but also engaging in rivalry and gossip. ### [Sir John Minnes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/characters/sir_john_minnes) _professional_ They were fellow Navy Commissioners and colleagues, often interacting in official capacities with occasional friction. ### [Sir George Carteret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/characters/sir_george_carteret) _professional_ They were both senior Navy Board officials, working together on naval administration but often at odds over policy and influence. ### [Captain Cocke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/characters/captain_cocke) _professional_ Captain Cocke and Sir William Batten had business dealings as naval contractors and commissioners, often with mutual suspicion. ### [Elizabeth Pepys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/characters/elizabeth_pepys) _social_ Elizabeth Pepys and Sir William Batten were acquaintances through social gatherings and the Navy Board circle, with polite but distant relations. ### [Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/characters/edward_montagu_earl_of_sandwich) _professional_ Lord Sandwich and Sir William Batten were fellow Navy Board officials, often cooperating but with underlying tensions. ### [Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/characters/edward_montagu_earl_of_sandwich) _professional_ Lord Sandwich and Sir William Batten were fellow Navy Board officials, often cooperating but with underlying tensions. ### [Sir John Minnes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/characters/sir_john_minnes) _professional_ They were fellow Navy Commissioners and colleagues, often interacting in official capacities with occasional friction. ### [Sir William Penn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/characters/sir_william_penn) _professional_ Both were senior Navy Board members and colleagues, frequently working together but also engaging in rivalry and gossip. ### [Captain Cocke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/characters/captain_cocke) _professional_ Captain Cocke and Sir William Batten had business dealings as naval contractors and commissioners, often with mutual suspicion. ## In the story ### [May 1660](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/may-1660) Present in the fleet; Pepys mentions visiting his ship and being received with respect. ### [August 1660](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/august-1660) Travels with Pepys to the Admiralty to order money for victuallers. ### [September 1660](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/september-1660) Accompanies Pepys to the Committee of Parliament regarding Navy debts. ### [October 1660](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/october-1660) Travels with Pepys to Whitehall and Deptford for ship payments. ### [November 1660](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/november-1660) Accompanies Pepys to Westminster; hosts oysters and supper; goes to Deptford to pay off a ship. ### [December 1660](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/december-1660) Pepys visits his wife and daughter; Lady Batten accompanies them to Woolwich. ### [January 1660–61](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/january-1660-61) Navy officer; accompanies Pepys to the Commissioners for paying off the Army and Navy. ### [February 1660–61](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/february-1660-61) Participates in office debates, Valentine festivities, and the barge trip to Deptford and Woolwich. ### [March 1660–61](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/march-1660-61) Dines with Pepys, goes to Rochester for Parliament election, hosts collation and dancing. ### [April 1661](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/april-1661) Naval colleague; dines with Pepys, drinks with him, and accompanies him to view the coronation show. ### [May 1661](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/may-1661) Hosts dinner and garden walk after the christening; Pepys dines at his house. ### [June 1661](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/june-1661) Leaves for Whitsuntide with his lady; returns from Chatham with Lady Batten suffering from toothache. ### [July 1661](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/july-1661) Hosts venison pasty dinner; Pepys visits his house for discussions and socializing. ### [August 1661](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/august-1661) Sir W. Batten; accompanies Pepys to Walthamstow, and Pepys hears a story about his wife's infidelity. ### [September 1661](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/september-1661) Hosts a merry gathering where a tankard is stolen as a prank; suspected of envying Lord Sandwich. ### [October 1661](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/october-1661) Pepys visits his house; hears about Sir R. Slingsby's funeral cancellation; plays cards with Lady Batten. ### [November 1661](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/november-1661) Naval official; mentioned in social contexts and at the office. ### [December 1661](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/december-1661) Naval colleague; accompanies Pepys to Whitehall and the office. ### [February 1661–62](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/february-1661-62) Hosts a wedding anniversary dinner with pies and wine; Pepys avoids his daughter on Valentine's Day. ### [March 1661–62](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/march-1661-62) Naval official; present at office meetings and suffers a coughing fit. ### [April 1662](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/april-1662) Naval colleague; involved in pay-offs, house renovations, and office discussions. ### [May 1662](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/may-1662) Contends for the Mastership of Trinity House but loses to Sir J. Minnes; his lady is noted as proud. ### [June 1662](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/june-1662) Batten accompanies Pepys to Woolwich to test yarn and discusses office business. ### [July 1662](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/july-1662) Paying off the Royal James; Pepys notes his envy but outwardly friendly behavior. ### [September 1662](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/september-1662) Accompanies Pepys to St. James's and dines with him. ### [October 1662](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/october-1662) Sick but recovering; Pepys visits him and hears about the maid who poisoned herself. ### [November 1662](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/november-1662) Colleague at the Navy Office; Pepys dines with him and discusses lodgings. ### [January 1662–63](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/january-1662-63) Paying off tickets at the Treasury office in a manner Pepys considers arbitrary and self-serving. ### [February 1662–63](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/february-1662-63) Accompanies Pepys to Whitehall for Duke's business. ### [March 1662–63](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/march-1662-63) Travels with Pepys to Woolwich and participates in office discussions. ### [April 1663](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/april-1663) His brother-in-law Captain Browne dies from a blow; Pepys visits him to see a picture drawing. ### [May 1663](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/may-1663) Naval colleague; Pepys fears Batten may learn of clerk Hater's religious meeting and cause trouble. ### [June 1663](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/june-1663) Naval colleague; Pepys opposes his corrupt tar dealings and receives a bribe of sturgeon. ### [July 1663](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/july-1663) Dines with Pepys at Mr. Castle's house, accompanies him to the office, and reports on Lord Bristol's speech in the Commons. ### [September 1663](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/september-1663) Attends the Council with Pepys; later inveighs against Pepys's contract for masts. ### [October 1663](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/october-1663) Accused by Pepys of suspicious dealings and opposed Sir J. Minnes's salary increase. ### [November 1663](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/november-1663) Present with Pepys at Whitehall in the Matted Gallery. ### [December 1663](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/december-1663) Mentioned in context of a contract dispute over masts; Pepys plans to use information against him. ### [March 1663–64](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/march-1663-64) Mentioned as one of only two seamen in Parliament; accompanies Pepys to the city. ### [April 1664](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/april-1664) A colleague at the Navy Office, frequently criticized by Pepys for his poor management and knavery. ### [May 1664](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/may-1664) Pepys has high words with him at the office over canvas specifications. ### [July 1664](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/july-1664) Accompanies Pepys to Woolwich ropeyard and learns of Mr. Falconer's death. ### [August 1664](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/august-1664) Present at St. James's; discussed in Warren's gossip about dealings. ### [October 1664](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/october-1664) Accompanies Pepys to St. James's; opposed in contract negotiations with Sir W. Warren. ### [November 1664](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/november-1664) Pepys's colleague; involved in prize office schemes and office politics, often at odds with Pepys. ### [December 1664](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/december-1664) Joins Pepys and Captain Cocke at Sir J. Minnes's for oysters and discussion of late troubles. ### [January 1664–65](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/january-1664-65) Hosts a gathering with disordered talk; Pepys visits him in the evening. ### [February 1664–65](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/february-1664-65) Pepys visits him and hears about Sir Thos. Harvy's intention to put Mr. Turner out of his house. ### [March 1664–65](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/march-1664-65) Pepys dines with him and Sir J. Minnes at the Tower; accompanies Pepys to St. James's. ### [April 1665](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/april-1665) Attends meeting with Lord Treasurer; returns from Harwich; notes Pepys's absences from the office. ### [May 1665](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/may-1665) Dines with Pepys and Lady Batten; later goes down to Harwich to meet the fleet. ### [July 1665](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/july-1665) Accompanies Pepys to Whitehall and Deptford; dines with him and discusses Sir John Lawson's family. ### [September 1665](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/september-1665) Dines with Pepys and others; his maid-servant falls ill, prompting his return to Walthamstow. ### [October 1665](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/october-1665) Returns from Oxford, shows Pepys a bill about breaking bulk and a letter from the Bishop of Munster. ### [November 1665](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/november-1665) Accompanies Pepys to Erith and Mrs. Williams's lodgings for Lord Brouncker's birthday. ### [July 1666](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/july-1666) Accompanies Pepys to St. James's to present the victualling paper. ### [August 1666](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/august-1666) Angry with Pepys after being told he spoke an untruth at the office. ### [September 1666](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/september-1666) Pepys discusses with Batten the parliamentary inquiry into their accounts and the potential for trouble. ### [October 1666](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/october-1666) Joins Pepys at dinner and in committee meetings; arranges a bond for a private man-of-war venture. ### [November 1666](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/november-1666) Pepys goes with Sir W. Batten to Woolwich and Deptford to inspect the Ruby and other yards, and later signs a letter drafted by Pepys despite being in a huff. ### [December 1666](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/december-1666) Pepys visits him to hear news of the New England fleet's troubles. ### [January 1666–67](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/january-1666-67) Dines at Sir W. Penn's and is invited to Pepys's dinner but is forced to dine elsewhere. ### [February 1666–67](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/february-1666-67) Feuds with Lord Brouncker over Carcasse; persecutes Carcasse with rancor; attends Parliament prorogation. ### [March 1666–67](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/march-1666-67) Speaks out in the Carcasse hearing and shares a coach home with Pepys. ### [May 1667](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/may-1667) Navy Board colleague; joins Pepys in reviewing the Carcasse report. ### [August 1667](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/august-1667) Hosts Pepys for dinner and discusses political news about Lord Chancellor Clarendon. ### [September 1667](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/september-1667) Hosts a dinner at Walthamstow; discusses Coventry's departure. ### [October 1667](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/october-1667) Reported to have gone to bed suddenly ill, having looked worse over the past two months. ### [January 1668–69](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/january-1668-69) Naval officer; attends the meeting at Lord Keeper's house regarding ship repairs. ### [May 1669](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/may-1669) Not directly mentioned in excerpts, but referenced as part of the Navy Board context. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/characters/sir_william_batten - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/characters