Robert Blake (1599 — August 17 1657) was one of the most important military commanders of the Commonwealth of England, and one of the most famous English admirals of the 17th century.
Blake was one of thirteen siblings born to a merchant in Bridgwater, Somerset, where he attended Bridgwater Grammar School For Boys. After attending Wadham College, Oxford, he had hoped to follow an academic career, but failed to secure a fellowship to Merton College, probably because of his political and religious views. Having returned to Bridgwater, probably because of the death of his mother in 1638, he decided to stand for election to Parliament.
Robert Blake was a Union Navy sailor during the American Civil War and a recipient of America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor. Blake was the second African American to perform a Medal of Honor action; William Harvey Carney was the first. Blake was the first African American to actually receive a Medal of Honor - his was presented to him in 1864, while Carney did not receive his until 1900. But, because Carney's Medal of Honor action occurred first, Carney, not Blake, is usually credited with being the first African American Medal of Honor recipient.
Robert Sarazin Blake is an American singer-songwriter hailing from Bellingham, WA. Blake is generally considered a folk musician, though his music incorporates elements of traditional Celtic songwriters, modern punk rock, country, and blues all blended together with a heavy dose of improvisation. This melding of varying genres produces a "speed strumming style" that functions as a backdrop to Blake's narrative style of songwriting. Although Blake also writes songs centered around love and his personal life, his leftist-anarchist politics feature prominently in many of his works. Examples of this can be found in songs such as "Didn't We," "Culture of Resistance," and "Philadelphia;" all of which promote the values of an anti-consumerist and independent spirit. He is known for his extensive touring; often traversing the entire United States and Ireland for much of the year. Although such an exhaustive touring schedule occupies a lot of Blake's time, he also makes sure to spend a good part of his time in and around his hometown of Bellingham, WA, where he organizes and performs in the Subdued String Band Festival each year in addition to playing and recording at many of the local bars and clubs. In addition to his extensive touring schedule, which takes him to venues ranging from the venerable 924 Gilman Street in Berkley, CA and the folk club The Tin Angel in Philadelphia, PA, to garages and basements, Blake also runs his own record label: Same Room Records.
