Background
He was the elder son of Sir Richard Munden (1602–1672) of Chelsea. The younger son was Rear-Admiral Sir John Munden.
He was the elder son of Sir Richard Munden (1602–1672) of Chelsea. The younger son was Rear-Admiral Sir John Munden.
Richard first appears as commander of the Swallow ketch in 1666, and afterwards of the Portsmouth in 1667. In 1672 he was captain of the Princess of 52 guns. And in 1673, in the Assistance, was commodore of a small squadron sent as convoy to the East India fleet.
Touching at Street Helena for water, he found the island in the possession of the Dutch.
After a spirited attack by sea and land he captured it on 4 May, and three Dutch East Indiamen, richly laden, who anchored in the bay, were seized. With his squadron and prizes and the homeward-bound ships in convoy, Munden arrived in England in August, and on 6 December was knighted by the king, "in consideration of his eminent service".
In April 1677, in command of the Street David, he convoyed the trade to the Mediterranean, was for some time at Zante, afterwards at Scanderoon, and for fourteen months at Smyrna. He arrived at Plymouth with the homeward trade on 12 May 1680.
On 15 June he wrote to the admiralty explaining that he had not sent home the muster-books from the Mediterranean, the postage being extremely heavy, and by no means safe.
Ten days later, 25 June 1680, he died. He was buried in the church at Bromley, Middlesex.