There are many people from/of Suffolk that was associated with The Royal Navy from many centuries back, in St Clements Churchyard Ipswich can be found this monument to Sir Thomas Slade who designed Admiral Horatio Nelson's Flagship 'Victory'. Thomas Eldred sailed around the world in 1588 with Thomas Cavendish both were well known local people, the former also buried in the Churchyard
Admiral Sir Philip Broke, famous for his capture of USS 'Chesapeake' is buried in the family vault of Nacton Church, Sir Philip lived at Broke Hall [now converted into flats] but another Admiral, Edward Vernon has a memorial in Nacton Church, he was one time MP for Ipswich and also commanded The North Sea Fleet.
It was Vernon who ordered the watering down of his crew's Rum Ration which was quickly adopted by other Naval Units, he was of course referred to as Old Grog [Grogram Coat] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Vernon 'Grog' lived in The Hall which is now Orwell Park School