Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
The Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom is an honorary office generally held by a senior Royal Navy
admiral
. Despite the title, the Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom is usually a full admiral. He is the official deputy to the Lord High Admiral
, an honorary (although once operational) office vested in the Sovereign from 1964-2011 and currently held by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
. He is appointed by the Sovereign
on the nomination of the First Sea Lord
, and his name is published in the London Gazette
by the Home Office
. The Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom retires at 70 years of age.
) was the second most powerful position in the Royal Navy, and until 1801 was officially called the Lieutenant of the Admiralty
. The office was created in 1545 by Tudor King Henry VIII
. Amongst other responsibilities, the Lieutenant of the Admiralty presided over the Council of the Marine, later known as the Navy Board.
As the deputy of the Lord High Admiral, the responsibilities of the pre-1964 Board of Admiralty would, in theory, have devolved upon the Vice-Admiral had the entire Board been incapacitated before a new Commission of Admiralty could pass the Great Seal
. However, such a contingency never occurred in practice.
Below the office of Vice-Admiral ranks the Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom
, another now honorary office.
In recent times, the appointment has usually been held concurrently by the Commander-in-Chief Fleet
.
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...
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"...
. Despite the title, the Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom is usually a full admiral. He is the official deputy to the Lord High Admiral
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...
, an honorary (although once operational) office vested in the Sovereign from 1964-2011 and currently held by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
. He is appointed by the Sovereign
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
on the nomination of 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...
, and his name is published in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
by the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
. The Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom retires at 70 years of age.
History
In former days, the Vice-Admiral of England (or Vice-Admiral of Great Britain following the 1707 union with ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
) was the second most powerful position in the Royal Navy, and until 1801 was officially called the Lieutenant of the Admiralty
Lieutenant of the Admiralty
The Lieutenant of the Admiralty is a now honorary office generally held by a senior retired Royal Navy admiral. He is the official deputy to the Lord High Admiral, an office vested in the Sovereign since 1964...
. The office was created in 1545 by Tudor King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
. Amongst other responsibilities, the Lieutenant of the Admiralty presided over the Council of the Marine, later known as the Navy Board.
As the deputy of the Lord High Admiral, the responsibilities of the pre-1964 Board of Admiralty would, in theory, have devolved upon the Vice-Admiral had the entire Board been incapacitated before a new Commission of Admiralty could pass the Great Seal
Great Seal of the Realm
The Great Seal of the Realm or Great Seal of the United Kingdom is a seal that is used to symbolise the Sovereign's approval of important state documents...
. However, such a contingency never occurred in practice.
Below the office of Vice-Admiral ranks the Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom
Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom
The Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom is a now honorary office generally held by a senior Royal Navy admiral. Despite the title, the Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom is usually a full admiral...
, another now honorary office.
In recent times, the appointment has usually been held concurrently by the 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...
.
Vice-Admirals of England
- Sir Robert de UmfravilleUmfravilleUmfraville, the name of an English baronial family, derived from Amfreville in Normandy. Members of this family obtained lands in Northumberland, including Redesdale and Prudhoe, from the Norman kings, and a later member, Gilbert de Umfraville , married Matilda, daughter of Malcolm, earl of Angus,...
1410?–1436 - Sir Richard HarlistonRichard HarlistonVice Admiral Richard Harliston, born circa 1425 in Humberstone, Lincolnshire, and brought up in the household of Richard, Duke of York....
- Sir Thomas Wyndham
- William FitzWilliamWilliam Fitzwilliam, 1st Earl of SouthamptonWilliam FitzWilliam, 1st Earl of Southampton, KG , English courtier, was the third son of Sir Thomas FitzWilliam of Aldwark and Lady Lucy Neville .His father died while FitzWilliam was in his infancy, and his mother remarried Sir Anthony Browne, the elder, so that...
1513 - Sir Thomas Pert in 1517
- Sir Robert Tyrwhitt
- William FitzWilliam, 1st Earl of SouthamptonWilliam Fitzwilliam, 1st Earl of SouthamptonWilliam FitzWilliam, 1st Earl of Southampton, KG , English courtier, was the third son of Sir Thomas FitzWilliam of Aldwark and Lady Lucy Neville .His father died while FitzWilliam was in his infancy, and his mother remarried Sir Anthony Browne, the elder, so that...
1520, 1522–1523 - Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount LisleArthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount LisleArthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle, KG was an illegitimate son of King Edward IV of England, and an important figure at the court of Henry VIII...
1525 - Sir William Winter 1544-1588
- Sir Francis DrakeFrancis DrakeSir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581. He was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588. He also carried out the...
1588 - Sir Richard GrenvilleRichard GrenvilleSir Richard Grenville was an English sailor, sea captain and explorer. He took part in the early English attempts to settle the New World, and also participated in the fight against the Spanish Armada...
1591 - Sir Richard LevesonRichard LevesonSir Richard Leveson was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1642. He supported the Royalist cause during the English Civil War....
1604 - Sir Robert Mansel
- Sir William BattenWilliam BattenSir William Batten was an English naval officer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1661 to 1667.Batten was the son of Andrew Batten, master in the Royal Navy. In 1625 he was stated to be one of the commanders of two ships sent on a whaling voyage to Spitsbergen by the Yarmouth...
1642–1647 - Sir William PennWilliam Penn (admiral)Sir William Penn was an English admiral, and the father of William Penn, founder of the Province of Pennsylvania....
1652–1660? - Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of SandwichEdward Montagu, 1st Earl of SandwichEdward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich, KG was an English Infantry officer who later became a naval officer. He was the only surviving son of Sir Sidney Montagu, and was brought up at Hinchingbrooke House....
1 April 1661 – 28 May 1672 - Prince Rupert of the RhinePrince Rupert of the RhineRupert, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, 1st Duke of Cumberland, 1st Earl of Holderness , commonly called Prince Rupert of the Rhine, KG, FRS was a noted soldier, admiral, scientist, sportsman, colonial governor and amateur artist during the 17th century...
15 August 1672 – 19 November 1682 - Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of GraftonHenry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of GraftonHenry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton KG was the illegitimate son of King Charles II by Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine....
2 December 1682 – 1689 - Arthur Herbert, 1st Earl of TorringtonArthur Herbert, 1st Earl of TorringtonArthur Herbert, 1st Earl of Torrington was a British admiral and politician of the late 17th and early 18th century. Cashiered as a rear-admiral by James II of England in 1688 for refusing to vote to repeal the Test Act, which prevented Catholics from holding offices, he brought the Invitation to...
14 September 1689 – 18 December 1690 - vacant?
- Edward Russell, 1st Earl of OrfordEdward Russell, 1st Earl of OrfordAdmiral of the Fleet Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford, PC was the First Lord of the Admiralty under King William III.-Naval career:...
9 November 1693 – ? - Sir George RookeGeorge RookeAdmiral of the Fleet Sir George Rooke was an English naval commander. He is known for his service in the wars against France and particularly remembered today for his victory at Vigo Bay and for capturing Gibraltar for the British in 1704.-Early life:Rooke was born at St Lawrence, near Canterbury...
1702 – 1 May 1707
Vice-Admirals of Great Britain
- Sir George RookeGeorge RookeAdmiral of the Fleet Sir George Rooke was an English naval commander. He is known for his service in the wars against France and particularly remembered today for his victory at Vigo Bay and for capturing Gibraltar for the British in 1704.-Early life:Rooke was born at St Lawrence, near Canterbury...
1 May 1707 – 24 January 1709?
- James Berkeley, 3rd Earl of BerkeleyJames Berkeley, 3rd Earl of BerkeleyVice-Admiral James Berkeley, 3rd Earl of Berkeley KG, PC was the son of Charles Berkeley, 2nd Earl of Berkeley and the Hon. Elizabeth Noel. He was known by the courtesy title of Viscount Dursley prior to succeeding as Earl of Berkeley in 1710...
21 March 1719 N.S. – 17 August 1736
- Sir John Norris April 1739 – 14 June 1749
- George Anson, 1st Baron AnsonGeorge Anson, 1st Baron AnsonAdmiral of the Fleet George Anson, 1st Baron Anson PC, FRS, RN was a British admiral and a wealthy aristocrat, noted for his circumnavigation of the globe and his role overseeing the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War...
4 July 1749 – 6 June 1762 - Henry Osborn 4 January 1763 – 1765
- Edward Hawke, 1st Baron HawkeEdward Hawke, 1st Baron HawkeAdmiral of the Fleet Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke KB, PC was an officer of the Royal Navy. He is best remembered for his service during the Seven Years' War, particularly his victory over a French fleet at the Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759, preventing a French invasion of Britain...
5 November 1765 – 16 October 1781 - George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron RodneyGeorge Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron RodneyGeorge Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, KB was a British naval officer. He is best known for his commands in the American War of Independence, particularly his victory over the French at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782...
6 November 1781 – 24 May 1792 - Richard Howe, 1st Earl HoweRichard Howe, 1st Earl HoweAdmiral of the Fleet Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe KG was a British naval officer, notable in particular for his service during the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars. He was the brother of William Howe and George Howe.Howe joined the navy at the age of thirteen and served...
9 June 1792 – March 1796 - Alexander Hood, 1st Viscount BridportAlexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport|-...
March 1796 – 1801
Vice-Admirals of the United Kingdom
- Alexander Hood, 1st Viscount BridportAlexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport|-...
1 January 1801 – 2 May 1814 - Sir William CornwallisWilliam CornwallisAdmiral the Honourable Sir William Cornwallis GCB was a Royal Navy officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. He was the brother of Charles Cornwallis, the 1st Marquess Cornwallis, governor-general of India...
14 May 1814 – 5 July 1819 - Sir William YoungWilliam Young (1751–1821)Sir William Young GCB was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars....
18 July 1819 – 25 October 1821 - James Saumarez, 1st Baron de SaumarezJames Saumarez, 1st Baron de SaumarezAdmiral James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez , GCB was an admiral of the British Royal Navy, notable for his victory at the Battle of Algeciras.-Early life:...
21 November 1821 – 15 February 1832 - Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount ExmouthEdward Pellew, 1st Viscount ExmouthAdmiral Sir Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth, GCB was a British naval officer. He fought during the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary, and the Napoleonic Wars...
15 February 1832 – 23 January 1833 - Sir Edward ThornbroughEdward ThornbroughAdmiral Sir Edward Thornbrough, GCB was a senior, long-serving veteran officer of the British Royal Navy during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. He saw action in the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, being wounded several times and...
30 January 1833 – 3 April 1834 - Sir George MartinGeorge Martin (Royal Navy officer)Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Martin GCB, GCMG was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars...
April 1834 – 9 November 1846 - Sir Davidge GouldDavidge GouldSir Davidge Gould GCB was an officer of the Royal Navy. He served during the American Revolutionary, French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral...
17 November 1846 – 23 April 1847 - Sir Robert Stopford 5 May 1847 – 25 June 1847
- Sir George MartinGeorge Martin (Royal Navy officer)Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Martin GCB, GCMG was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars...
10 July 1847 – 28 July 1847 - Sir Thomas Byam MartinThomas Byam MartinAdmiral Sir Thomas Byam Martin, GCB was a highly influential British Royal Navy officer who served at sea during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and then as a naval administrator until his death in 1854...
10 August 1847 – 21 October 1854 - Sir William Hall GageWilliam Hall GageAdmiral of the Fleet Sir William Hall Gage GCB GCH was Second Sea Lord in the British Navy.-Naval career:Born the third son of General Thomas Gage, Gage joined the Royal Navy in 1789. In 1797 he was given command of the frigate HMS Terpsichore and sailed in the Mediterranean to conduct the Siege...
6 November 1854 – 20 May 1862 - Sir Graham Hamond, 2nd BaronetSir Graham Hamond, 2nd BaronetAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Graham Eden Hamond, 2nd Baronet GCB was a Royal Navy officer who served during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars....
5 June 1862 – 10 November 1862 - Sir Francis William AustenFrancis AustenSir Francis William Austen, GCB was a British officer who spent most of his long life on active duty in the Royal Navy, rising to the position of Admiral of the Fleet.-Background:...
11 December 1862 – 27 April 1863 - Sir Thomas John CochraneThomas John CochraneAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Thomas John Cochrane GCB was an English naval officer and colonial governor.-Naval career:...
16 May 1863 – 12 September 1865 - Sir George Francis Seymour 23 September 1865 – 20 November 1866
- Sir William Bowles 26 November 1866 – 15 January 1869
- Sir George Rose SartoriusGeorge SartoriusAdmiral of the Fleet Sir George Rose Sartorius GCB was a Royal Navy officer who also commanded the navy of Dom Pedro in the Portuguese Civil Wars.-Naval career:...
1 March 1869 – 3 July 1869 - Sir Fairfax MoresbyFairfax MoresbyAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Fairfax Moresby GCB , born in Calcutta, India, to English parents was a British naval officer.-Early life:Moresby was the eldest son of Fairfax Moresby, Lieut...
17 July 1869 – 21 January 1870 - Sir Provo WallisProvo WallisAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Provo William Perry Wallis, GCB was a Royal Navy officer and naval war hero. He was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was 100 years old when he died....
12 February 1870 – 15 January 1876 - Sir Michael Seymour 15 January 1876 – 23 February 1887
- abolished under VictoriaVictoria of the United KingdomVictoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
; revived by Edward VIIEdward VII of the United KingdomEdward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910... - Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, 3rd BaronetSir Michael Culme-Seymour, 3rd BaronetAdmiral Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, 3rd Baronet was a senior Royal Navy officer. On 17 September 1880 he became 3rd Baronet, on the death of his father...
25 July 1901 – 1920 - Sir Francis Bridgeman 1920 – 17 February 1929
- Sir Stanley Cecil James ColvilleStanley ColvilleAdmiral Sir Stanley Cecil James Colville GCB GCMG GCVO was a British Royal Navy officer.Colville was born in Eaton Place, London, the second son of Charles Colville, 10th Lord Colville of Culross, entitling him to the style "The Honourable". His mother, Cecile, was the daughter of Robert...
25 March 1929 – 13 February 1939 - Sir Montague Edmund BrowningMontague BrowningAdmiral Sir Montague Edward Browning GCB GCMG GCVO was a senior Royal Navy officer who went on to be Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel.-Military career:...
13 February 1939 – 19 June 1945 - Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith 19 June 1945 – 12 October 1962
- Sir John Hereward EdelstenJohn EdelstenAdmiral Sir John Hereward Edelsten GCB GCVO CBE was a senior Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.-Naval career:Edelsten joined the Royal Navy in 1908...
12 October 1962 – 11 March 1966 - Sir John Peter Lorne ReidPeter Reid (Royal Navy officer)Admiral Sir Peter Reid GCB CVO was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Controller of the Navy.-Naval career:...
11 March 1966 – 11 January 1973 - Sir Deric Holland-MartinDeric Holland-MartinAdmiral Sir Douglas Eric "Deric" Holland-Martin GCB DSO DSC was a senior Royal Navy officer who went on to be Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel.-Naval career:Educated at West Downs School, Holland-Martin joined the Royal Navy in 1920...
11 January 1973 – 12 April 1976 - Sir Nigel Stuart HendersonNigel HendersonAdmiral Sir Nigel Stuart Henderson GBE KCB DL was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Chairman of the NATO Military Committee.-Naval career:Henderson joined the Royal Navy in 1927. He served in World War II as a gunnery officer...
12 April 1976 – 1 August 1979 - Sir John Fitzroy Duyland Bush 1 August 1979 – 1984
- Sir William Donough O'BrienWilliam O'Brien (Royal Navy officer)Admiral Sir William Donough O'Brien KCB DSC was Commander-in-Chief of the Western Fleet.-Naval career:Educated at the Royal Naval College Dartmouth, O'Brien was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1930. He served in World War II. In the early 1960s he served as Director of Naval Plans at the...
1984 – 13 November 1986 - Sir Leslie Derek EmpsonDerek EmpsonAdmiral Sir Derek Empson GBE KCB was Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command.-Naval career:Educated at Eastbourne College, Empson joined the Royal Navy as a pilot 1940. He served in the Fleet Air Arm during World War II....
13 November 1986 – 29 October 1988 - Sir Anthony Templer Frederick Griffith GriffinAnthony Griffin (Royal Navy officer)Admiral Sir Anthony Templer Frederick Griffith Griffin GCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Controller of the Navy.-Naval career:...
29 October 1988 – 24 November 1988 - Sir Anthony Storrs MortonAnthony MortonAdmiral Sir Anthony Storrs Morton GBE KCB was Vice-Chief of Defence Staff.-Naval career:Educated at Loretto School, Morton was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1941 during World War II....
24 November 1988 – 17 January 1994 - Sir James Henry Fuller EberleJames EberleAdmiral Sir James Henry Fuller Eberle GCB was Commander-in-Chief Fleet.-Naval career:Educated at Clifton College and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Eberle was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1941. He served in World War II....
17 January 1994 – 6 November 1997 - Sir Nicholas John Streynsham HuntNicholas HuntAdmiral Sir Nicholas John Streynsham Hunt GCB LVO was Commander-in-Chief Fleet.-Naval career:Educated at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Hunt was commissioned into the Royal Navy and then became Assistant Private Secretary to Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent.He was appointed an Executive...
6 November 1997 – 30 April 2001 - Sir Jeremy Black 30 April 2001 – 2005