Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, 3rd Baronet
Encyclopedia
Admiral Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, 3rd Baronet (13 March 1836 – 11 October 1920) was a senior Royal Navy
officer. On 17 September 1880 he became 3rd Baronet, on the death of his father. The Culme-Seymours were relatives of the Seymour
family, his father having added his wife's family name - Culme - to his own following her death.
. The fleet was commanded by Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour (his uncle), while Calcutta was commanded by William King Hall. On 25 May 1857 he was promoted to Lieutenant, continuing to serve on Calcutta until 6 June 1859, when he was promoted again to commander. From 20 June 1861 to 16 August 1865 he commanded in the Mediterranean Fleet
. On 16 December 1865 he was promoted to Captain. In December 1870 he commanded in the Channel Squadron. From 1874 to 1876 he was private secretary to First Lord of the Admiralty, George Ward Hunt
. In 1876 he returned to the Mediterranean, commanding . In July 1877 he transferred to and took part in the 1878 passage of the Dardanelles
commanded by Admiral Sir Geoffrey Phipps Hornby. From 29 July 1879 to 9 May 1882 he was captain of , which was the flagship of the officer commanding Portsmouth harbour, Admiral Alfred Phillips Ryder
, at the end of which appointment he was promoted to Rear-Admiral. 1885 saw him as second in command of the Baltic squadron under Phipps Hornby during the Panjdeh Incident
. From 5 July 1885 to 20 September 1887 he was commander in chief of the Pacific squadron
. He was promoted to Vice-Admiral on 19 June 1888 and from 1890 he commanded the Channel Fleet
for two years.
From 3 May 1893 to 10 November 1896 he was Commander in Chief, Mediterranean Fleet
, replacing George Tryon
after the accidental sinking of in a collision. He was promoted to full admiral before taking up the command.
From 3 August 1897 to 3 October 1900 he was Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
.
He died at Oundle
in Northamptonshire
.
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. On 17 September 1880 he became 3rd Baronet, on the death of his father. The Culme-Seymours were relatives of the Seymour
Sir Michael Seymour, 1st Baronet
Sir Michael Seymour, 1st Baronet KCB was an officer of the Royal Navy. He served during the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars, eventually rising to the rank of Rear-Admiral.-Family and early life:...
family, his father having added his wife's family name - Culme - to his own following her death.
Naval career
Born the son of Sir John Hobart Culme-Seymour, 2nd Baronet (1800–1880), Culme-Seymour entered the Navy in 1850. In 1856 he served as mate in , flagship of the East Indies squadron, which was involved in the Second Opium WarSecond Opium War
The Second Opium War, the Second Anglo-Chinese War, the Second China War, the Arrow War, or the Anglo-French expedition to China, was a war pitting the British Empire and the Second French Empire against the Qing Dynasty of China, lasting from 1856 to 1860...
. The fleet was commanded by Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour (his uncle), while Calcutta was commanded by William King Hall. On 25 May 1857 he was promoted to Lieutenant, continuing to serve on Calcutta until 6 June 1859, when he was promoted again to commander. From 20 June 1861 to 16 August 1865 he commanded in the Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
. On 16 December 1865 he was promoted to Captain. In December 1870 he commanded in the Channel Squadron. From 1874 to 1876 he was private secretary to First Lord of the Admiralty, George Ward Hunt
George Ward Hunt
George Ward Hunt was a British Conservative Party politician and statesman, Chancellor of the Exchequer and First Lord of the Admiralty in 1st and 2nd ministries of Benjamin Disraeli.-Background:...
. In 1876 he returned to the Mediterranean, commanding . In July 1877 he transferred to and took part in the 1878 passage of the Dardanelles
Dardanelles
The Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...
commanded by Admiral Sir Geoffrey Phipps Hornby. From 29 July 1879 to 9 May 1882 he was captain of , which was the flagship of the officer commanding Portsmouth harbour, Admiral Alfred Phillips Ryder
Alfred Phillips Ryder
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Alfred Phillips Ryder KCB was a Royal Navy officer and an active member of the Church of England Purity Society.-Biography:...
, at the end of which appointment he was promoted to Rear-Admiral. 1885 saw him as second in command of the Baltic squadron under Phipps Hornby during the Panjdeh Incident
Panjdeh Incident
The Panjdeh Incident or Panjdeh Scare was a battle that occurred in 1885 when Russian forces seized Afghan territory south of the Oxus River around an oasis at Panjdeh . The incident created a diplomatic crisis between Russia and Great Britain...
. From 5 July 1885 to 20 September 1887 he was commander in chief of the Pacific squadron
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...
. He was promoted to Vice-Admiral on 19 June 1888 and from 1890 he commanded the Channel Fleet
Channel Fleet
The Channel Fleet was the Royal Navy formation of warships that defended the waters of the English Channel from 1690 to 1909.-History:The Channel Fleet dates back at least to 1690 when its role was to defend England against the French threat under the leadership of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of...
for two years.
From 3 May 1893 to 10 November 1896 he was Commander in Chief, Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
, replacing George Tryon
George Tryon
Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon, KCB was a British admiral who died when his flagship HMS Victoria collided with HMS Camperdown during manoeuvres off Tripoli, Lebanon.-Early life:...
after the accidental sinking of in a collision. He was promoted to full admiral before taking up the command.
From 3 August 1897 to 3 October 1900 he was Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. Portsmouth Command was a name given to the units, establishments, and staff operating under the post.-History:...
.
He died at Oundle
Oundle
Oundle is an ancient market town on the River Nene in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 5,345 or 5,674 . It lies some north of London and south-west of Peterborough...
in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
.