James Goodrich (Royal Navy officer)
Encyclopedia
Admiral Sir James Edward Clifford Goodrich KCVO
(28 June 1851 – 1 September 1925) was the last Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station
.
in the Royal Navy
in 1872. Promoted to Captain
in 1895, he was given command of HMS London
and then served as Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station
from his appointment in 1903 to its closure in 1905. Improved communications, the signing of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance
and the need to concentrate warships in British waters to counter the developing German High Seas Fleet
, meant that the station was closed down at sunset on 1 March 1905. Promoted to Rear Admiral in October 1905, he was appointed Admiral Superintendent of the Gibraltar
Dockyard in 1906. His final promotion was to Admiral in 1913 on his retirement, although he was recalled to serve as a Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve
during World War I
.
He died in 1925 and a memorial to him stands in St Cyr's Churchyard in Stinchcombe
in Gloucestershire
.
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...
(28 June 1851 – 1 September 1925) was the last Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station
Pacific Station
The Pacific Station, often referred to as the Pacific Squadron, was one of the geographical divisions into which the Royal Navy divided its worldwide responsibilities...
.
Naval career
Goorich was appointed a lieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 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. Promoted to Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
in 1895, he was given command of HMS London
HMS London (1899)
HMS London was a Formidable class battleship in the British Royal Navy, often considered to be part of the London class or subclass.-Technical Description:...
and then served as Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station
Pacific Station
The Pacific Station, often referred to as the Pacific Squadron, was one of the geographical divisions into which the Royal Navy divided its worldwide responsibilities...
from his appointment in 1903 to its closure in 1905. Improved communications, the signing of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance
Anglo-Japanese Alliance
The first was signed in London at what is now the Lansdowne Club, on January 30, 1902, by Lord Lansdowne and Hayashi Tadasu . A diplomatic milestone for its ending of Britain's splendid isolation, the alliance was renewed and extended in scope twice, in 1905 and 1911, before its demise in 1921...
and the need to concentrate warships in British waters to counter the developing German High Seas Fleet
High Seas Fleet
The High Seas Fleet was the battle fleet of the German Empire and saw action during World War I. The formation was created in February 1907, when the Home Fleet was renamed as the High Seas Fleet. Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz was the architect of the fleet; he envisioned a force powerful enough to...
, meant that the station was closed down at sunset on 1 March 1905. Promoted to Rear Admiral in October 1905, he was appointed Admiral Superintendent of the Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
Dockyard in 1906. His final promotion was to Admiral in 1913 on his retirement, although he was recalled to serve as a Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Naval Reserve
The Royal Naval Reserve is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. The present Royal Naval Reserve was formed in 1958 by merging the original Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve , a reserve of civilian volunteers founded in 1903...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
He died in 1925 and a memorial to him stands in St Cyr's Churchyard in Stinchcombe
Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire
Stinchcombe is a small village and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England on the B4060 road between Dursley and North Nibley. The church is called St Cyr's and its yard contains 40–60 gravestones....
in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
.