Lorenzo Marcello

Lorenzo Marcello (1603–1656) was a Venetian admiral born into the patrician Marcello family. He entered the navy in 1618 and campaigned against Barbary pirates in the 1630s before joining the war against the Ottomans over Crete.

At Valona in 1638 he kept command after being wounded, earning the Senate's praise. In September 1655 he succeeded Francesco Morosini as Captain General of the Sea.

On 26 June 1656 he led the Venetian and Maltese fleet against the Ottoman navy at the Dardanelles, winning Venice's greatest victory since Lepanto; he was killed by a cannon shot leading the centre into battle. His lieutenant concealed his body to preserve the crews' morale.