John Hext
Encyclopedia
Rear-admiral Sir John Hext KCIE
(14 October 1842 – 8 May 1924) was a British
Royal Navy
officer and director of the Royal Indian Marine
for 15 years. Hext was born on the 14 October 1842 the eldest son of the Reverend J.H. Hext who was vicar of Morval, Cornwall
.
Hext joined the Royal Navy
in 1857 and his first appointment was to the frigate HMS Greyhound in the West Indies, gaining his commission as a Lieutenant in 1865 he was appointed to HMS Perseus. In 1872 he gained his first command, HMS Decoy a composite gunboat which was based at the Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Station. While in command of the Decoy he was involved the Ashanti war, on the 13 June 1873 he led the boat expedition at Eliman and also landed at Bootey where the boat-crews destroyed the native village. He received he Ashanti Medal
and was mentioned in dispatches for his actions and also promoted to Commander. In 1875 he became commander of the sloop HMS Cruiser
in the mediterranean which became a training ship, With his new experience of training he was appointed to command the training ship HMS St. Vincent
located at Portsmouth harbour.
He returned to sea duty in the East Indies on the sloop HMS Dryad
and was promoted to Captain in 1882. He was involved in the Egyptian War of 1882 in the transport service at Suez. In February 1883 he was selected to be Director of Marine working form the Government of India, he originally was appointed for five years he held the post for 15 years. In January 1886 he was also appointed an honorary aide-de-camp to the Viceroy of India. He was received thanks from the Indian government for his work during the Burma annexation war
of 1885-1886.
He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
in 1897 for his work, during the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria
he was knighted when he was promoted to a Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
and also promoted to rear-admiral, although he had been on the retired list since 1889. Hext returned to England as continued in his interest in Naval affairs and was one of the Commissioners appointed to look at the administration of the Port of London. He died at home at Newton Abbot on 8 May 1924 aged 81.
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...
(14 October 1842 – 8 May 1924) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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 and director of the Royal Indian Marine
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
for 15 years. Hext was born on the 14 October 1842 the eldest son of the Reverend J.H. Hext who was vicar of Morval, Cornwall
Morval, Cornwall
Morval is a rural civil parish and hamlet in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. The hamlet is approximately two miles north of Looe and five miles south of Liskeard....
.
Hext 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 1857 and his first appointment was to the frigate HMS Greyhound in the West Indies, gaining his commission as a Lieutenant in 1865 he was appointed to HMS Perseus. In 1872 he gained his first command, HMS Decoy a composite gunboat which was based at the Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Station. While in command of the Decoy he was involved the Ashanti war, on the 13 June 1873 he led the boat expedition at Eliman and also landed at Bootey where the boat-crews destroyed the native village. He received he Ashanti Medal
Ashanti Medal
The Ashanti Medal was the first campaign medal authorized by Edward VII. This medal was created for those troops that were engaged in the Third Ashanti Expedition, also known as the War of the Golden Stool. This expedition lasted from March 1900 – September 1900, with the final outcome being the...
and was mentioned in dispatches for his actions and also promoted to Commander. In 1875 he became commander of the sloop HMS Cruiser
HMS Cruizer (1852)
HMS Cruizer was a 17-gun wooden screw sloop, the name-ship of the Cruizer class of the Royal Navy, launched at the Royal Dockyard, Deptford in 1852. The spelling of her name was formally altered to HMS Cruiser in 1857. She became a sail training vessel in 1872 and was renamed HMS Lark...
in the mediterranean which became a training ship, With his new experience of training he was appointed to command the training ship HMS St. Vincent
HMS St Vincent (1815)
HMS St Vincent was a 120-gun first rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, laid down in 1810 at Plymouth Dockyard and launched on 11 March 1815 before a crowd that was put at 50,000 spectators.-Service:...
located at Portsmouth harbour.
He returned to sea duty in the East Indies on the sloop HMS Dryad
HMS Dryad (1866)
HMS Dryad was a 4-gun Amazon-class screw sloop, launched at Devonport in 1866. She served on the East Indies and North American Stations, taking part in the Abyssinian War, a confrontation with the French at Tamatave and theEgyptian War...
and was promoted to Captain in 1882. He was involved in the Egyptian War of 1882 in the transport service at Suez. In February 1883 he was selected to be Director of Marine working form the Government of India, he originally was appointed for five years he held the post for 15 years. In January 1886 he was also appointed an honorary aide-de-camp to the Viceroy of India. He was received thanks from the Indian government for his work during the Burma annexation war
Third Anglo-Burmese War
The Third Anglo-Burmese War was a conflict that took place during 7–29 November 1885, with sporadic resistance and insurgency continuing into 1887. It was the final of three wars fought in the 19th century between the Burmese and the British...
of 1885-1886.
He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
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 1897 for his work, during the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria
1897 Diamond Jubilee Honours
The Diamond Jubilee Honours for the British Empire were announced in 22 June 1897 to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria on 20 June 1897....
he was knighted when he was promoted to a Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
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...
and also promoted to rear-admiral, although he had been on the retired list since 1889. Hext returned to England as continued in his interest in Naval affairs and was one of the Commissioners appointed to look at the administration of the Port of London. He died at home at Newton Abbot on 8 May 1924 aged 81.