Edmond Slade
Encyclopedia
Admiral Sir Edmond John Warre Slade KCVO
, KCIE
(20 March 1859 – 20 January 1928) was a British rear-admiral and a director of the Naval Intelligence Division
. His daughter Madeline Slade
was an Indian National Congress
supporter and Hindu
.
and the 11th son of General Sir John Slade
), Edmond Slade joined the Royal Navy
in 1872. He was appointed to as a midshipman
in 1874. Promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in 1878, Lieutenant in 1879 and Commander in 1894, he commanded Cocktrice, a paddle gunboat stationed in the Danube
to represent Great Britain on the Danube Commission
in January 1895.
In 1898 he commanded the sloop in China. Promoted to Captain in 1899, he commanded the cruiser in the Mediterranean from 1902. When the King
visited Malta
in 1903 Slade was appointed MVO
. He was made Commander of the Royal Naval War College in 1904 and Director of Naval Intelligence
in 1907.
Promoted Rear-Admiral in 1908, he represented the Admiralty
at the International Maritime Conference (December 1908 to February 1909) which resulted in the Declaration of London
. He became Commander in Chief, East Indies Station
in 1909. He was appointed KCIE
in 1911 and in 1912 when the King
and Queen
visited India for the Durbar he was also appointed KCVO
.
In 1913 he was sent by Winston Churchill
to investigate purchasing a 51% stake in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company
. The expedition gave a positive report and the British Government bought a 51% stake in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company
just before the outbreak of the First World War. As part of the agreement the Government had the right to appoint two directors, and Slade became one of these, a position he held until his death.
He retired from the Navy with the rank of full Admiral on 1 September 1917.
.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, KCIE
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
(20 March 1859 – 20 January 1928) was a British rear-admiral and a director of the Naval Intelligence Division
Naval Intelligence Division
The Naval Intelligence Division was the intelligence arm of the British Admiralty before the establishment of a unified Defence Staff in 1965. It dealt with matters concerning British naval plans, with the collection of naval intelligence...
. His daughter Madeline Slade
Mirabehn
Madeleine Slade , daughter of the British Rear-Admiral Sir Edmond Slade, was a British woman who left her home in England to live and work with Mohandas Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement. She devoted her life to human development, the advancement of Gandhi's principles and...
was an Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
supporter and Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
.
Naval career
Born the son of Rev George Fitzclarence Slade (1831–1904) (a Fellow of All Souls College, OxfordAll Souls College, Oxford
The Warden and the College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceased in the University of Oxford or All Souls College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England....
and the 11th son of General Sir John Slade
Sir John Slade, 1st Baronet
General Sir John "Black Jack" Slade, 1st Baronet, GCH served as a general officer in the British Army during the Peninsular War. He lacked talent as a combat leader. Though Slade was praised in official reports, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington criticized his actions privately and finally...
), Edmond Slade 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...
in 1872. He was appointed to as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in 1874. Promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in 1878, Lieutenant in 1879 and Commander in 1894, he commanded Cocktrice, a paddle gunboat stationed in the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
to represent Great Britain on the Danube Commission
Danube Commission
The Danube Commission is concerned with the maintenance and improvement of navigation conditions of the Danube River, from its source in Germany to its outlets in Romania and Ukraine, leading to the Black Sea. It was established in 1948 by seven countries bordering the river, replacing previous...
in January 1895.
In 1898 he commanded the sloop in China. Promoted to Captain in 1899, he commanded the cruiser in the Mediterranean from 1902. When the King
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
visited Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
in 1903 Slade was appointed MVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
. He was made Commander of the Royal Naval War College in 1904 and Director of Naval Intelligence
Naval Intelligence Division
The Naval Intelligence Division was the intelligence arm of the British Admiralty before the establishment of a unified Defence Staff in 1965. It dealt with matters concerning British naval plans, with the collection of naval intelligence...
in 1907.
Promoted Rear-Admiral in 1908, he represented the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
at the International Maritime Conference (December 1908 to February 1909) which resulted in the Declaration of London
Declaration of London
The London Declaration concerning the Laws of Naval War is an international code of maritime law, especially as it relates to wartime activities, proposed in 1909 at the London Naval Conference by the leading European naval powers, as well as the United States and Japan, after a multinational...
. He became Commander in Chief, East Indies Station
East Indies Station
The East Indies Station was a formation of the British Royal Navy from 1865 to 1941.From 1831 to 1865 the East Indies and the China Station were a single command known as the East Indies and China Station...
in 1909. He was appointed KCIE
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
in 1911 and in 1912 when the King
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and Queen
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
visited India for the Durbar he was also appointed KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
.
In 1913 he was sent by Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
to investigate purchasing a 51% stake in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company
Anglo-Persian Oil Company
The Anglo-Persian Oil Company was founded in 1908 following the discovery of a large oil field in Masjed Soleiman, Iran. It was the first company to extract petroleum from the Middle East...
. The expedition gave a positive report and the British Government bought a 51% stake in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company
Anglo-Persian Oil Company
The Anglo-Persian Oil Company was founded in 1908 following the discovery of a large oil field in Masjed Soleiman, Iran. It was the first company to extract petroleum from the Middle East...
just before the outbreak of the First World War. As part of the agreement the Government had the right to appoint two directors, and Slade became one of these, a position he held until his death.
He retired from the Navy with the rank of full Admiral on 1 September 1917.
Family
In 1887 Edmond married Florence Madeleine, eldest daughter of Mr James Carr Saunders of Milton Heath, Dorking (but born in Reigate, Surrey in 1870), and had two daughters: Rhona Warre and Madeline Warre SladeMirabehn
Madeleine Slade , daughter of the British Rear-Admiral Sir Edmond Slade, was a British woman who left her home in England to live and work with Mohandas Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement. She devoted her life to human development, the advancement of Gandhi's principles and...
.