Benjamin Bathurst
Encyclopedia
Admiral of the Fleet
Sir David Benjamin Bathurst GCB
, ADC
, DL
(born 27 May 1936) is a Royal Navy
officer who served as Chief of the Naval Staff
and First Sea Lord
during the early 1990s. He usually goes by his middle name and is known as Benjamin Bathurst.
Bathurst is the son of Peter Bathurst and his wife Lady Elizabeth Ann (née Temple-Gore-Langton). His grandfather Benjamin Bathurst, Member of Parliament
for Cirencester
, was the third son of Allen Bathurst, 6th Earl Bathurst
.
and Britannia Royal Naval College
he joined the Royal Navy
as a cadet
in 1953. He soon qualified as an instructor, followed by Senior Pilot and went on to take command of his squadron. He also served as an exchange officer with the Royal Australian Navy and was executive officer on the destroyer
HMS Norfolk
.
Promoted Captain
in 1974, Bathurst took command of a Leander class frigate
, HMS Ariadne
. During his command of Ariadne, he participated in operations in the Mediterranean and around the United Kingdom. He also made a port visit to Flensburg, Germany via the Kiel Canal. Two years later he became Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord
at the Ministry of Defence
. In 1978 he took command of HMS Minerva
and was Captain 5th Frigate Squadron until 1980. The following year, Bathurst attended the Royal College of Defence Studies
in London and was appointed Director of Naval Air Warfare in the Ministry of Defence.
Bathurst was promoted to Rear Admiral
in 1983, serving as Flag Officer Second Flotilla until taking up the appointment of Director General Naval Manpower and Training. Promoted Vice Admiral
in 1986, he was appointed Chief of Fleet Support
and then, having been promoted to Admiral
in 1989, he was made Commander-in-Chief Fleet
which also carried the NATO appointment of Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Atlantic (CINCEASTLANT), reporting to SACLANT.
He became Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in 1991 and two years later became Chief of the Naval Staff
and First Sea Lord
. Bathurst was promoted Admiral of the Fleet
on his retirement in 1995.
of Somerset in 1996 and became Vice Lord Lieutenant in 1999.
Bathurst is the cousin of the present 8th Earl Bathurst
and in distant remainder to this title.
|-
|-
|-
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
Sir David Benjamin Bathurst GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, ADC
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(born 27 May 1936) is a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
officer who served as Chief of the Naval Staff
Chief of the Naval Staff
Chief of the Naval Staff is the formal title for the office of:* Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy* Chief of the Naval Staff, Pakistan NavyNavies of other countries have similar titles:* Chief of Navy, Royal Australian Navy...
and First Sea Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
during the early 1990s. He usually goes by his middle name and is known as Benjamin Bathurst.
Bathurst is the son of Peter Bathurst and his wife Lady Elizabeth Ann (née Temple-Gore-Langton). His grandfather Benjamin Bathurst, Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Cirencester
Cirencester (UK Parliament constituency)
Cirencester was a parliamentary constituency in Gloucestershire. From 1571 until 1885, it was a parliamentary borough, which returned two Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1868, and one member between 1868 and 1885...
, was the third son of Allen Bathurst, 6th Earl Bathurst
Allen Bathurst, 6th Earl Bathurst
Allen Alexander Bathurst, 6th Earl Bathurst , known as Allen Bathurst until 1878, was a British peer and Conservative Member of Parliament.-Background and education:...
.
Naval career
Educated at Eton CollegeEton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
he joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as a cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
in 1953. He soon qualified as an instructor, followed by Senior Pilot and went on to take command of his squadron. He also served as an exchange officer with the Royal Australian Navy and was executive officer on the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
HMS Norfolk
HMS Norfolk (D21)
The fifth HMS Norfolk was laid down on 15 March 1966 by Swan Hunter and launched by Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk in November 1967. She was commissioned in March 1970...
.
Promoted Captain
Captain (Royal Navy)
Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
in 1974, Bathurst took command of a Leander class frigate
Leander class frigate
The Leander class, or Type 12I frigates, comprising twenty-six vessels, was among the most numerous and long-lived classes of frigate in the Royal Navy's modern history. The class was built in three batches between 1959 and 1973...
, HMS Ariadne
HMS Ariadne (F72)
HMS Ariadne was a Leander class frigate of the Royal Navy .-Construction:Ariadne was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders of Scotstoun and was the last of the Leander class to be completed, and the last warship to be built for the RN powered by steam...
. During his command of Ariadne, he participated in operations in the Mediterranean and around the United Kingdom. He also made a port visit to Flensburg, Germany via the Kiel Canal. Two years later he became Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
at the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
. In 1978 he took command of HMS Minerva
HMS Minerva (F45)
HMS Minerva was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was built by Vickers Armstrong. She was launched on the 19 December 1964, and commissioned on 14 May 1966....
and was Captain 5th Frigate Squadron until 1980. The following year, Bathurst attended the Royal College of Defence Studies
Royal College of Defence Studies
The Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom...
in London and was appointed Director of Naval Air Warfare in the Ministry of Defence.
Bathurst was promoted to Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
in 1983, serving as Flag Officer Second Flotilla until taking up the appointment of Director General Naval Manpower and Training. Promoted Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
in 1986, he was appointed Chief of Fleet Support
Fourth Sea Lord
The Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Supplies was formerly one of the Naval Lords and members of the Board of Admiralty which controlled the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.-History:...
and then, having been promoted to Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
in 1989, he was made Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet is the admiral responsible for the operation, resourcing and training of the ships, submarines and aircraft, and personnel, of the British Royal Navy...
which also carried the NATO appointment of Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Atlantic (CINCEASTLANT), reporting to SACLANT.
He became Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in 1991 and two years later became Chief of the Naval Staff
Chief of the Naval Staff
Chief of the Naval Staff is the formal title for the office of:* Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy* Chief of the Naval Staff, Pakistan NavyNavies of other countries have similar titles:* Chief of Navy, Royal Australian Navy...
and First Sea Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
. Bathurst was promoted Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
on his retirement in 1995.
Later career
He was appointed to the office of Deputy Lord LieutenantDeputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Somerset in 1996 and became Vice Lord Lieutenant in 1999.
Bathurst is the cousin of the present 8th Earl Bathurst
Earl Bathurst
Earl Bathurst, of Bathurst in the County of Sussex, is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1772 for Allen Bathurst, 1st Baron Bathurst. He was a politician and an opponent of Sir Robert Walpole...
and in distant remainder to this title.
Further reading
- The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 - 1995, Heathcote T. A., Pen & Sword Ltd, 2002, ISBN 0-85052-835-6
|-
|-
|-