Wilmot Fawkes
| Sir Wilmot Fawkes | |
|---|---|
| Born |
22 December 1846 Barnet, Hertfordshire |
| Died |
29 May 1926 (aged -91) Chippenham, Wiltshire |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1860–1911 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held |
HMS Raleigh HMS Mercury[1] HMS Terrible[1] HMS Canopus[1] Australia Station Plymouth Command |
| Awards |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order |
Admiral Sir Wilmot Hawksworth Fawkes GCB, KCVO (22 December 1846 – 29 May 1926) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth.
Naval career
Fawkes joined the Royal Navy in 1860 and by 1867 had become a Lieutenant.[2] He served mainly in the Mediterranean on HMS Prince Consort and Research.[2] In 1872 he matriculated at St John's College, Cambridge but did not graduate.[3] In 1880 he was promoted to Commander and served on HMS Northampton on the North America and West Indies station.[2] After a few years he returned to England to command of the Royal Yacht Osborne, a post he held for two years.[2]
Promoted Captain in 1886,[4] he was given command of HMS Raleigh before going on to be Naval Advisor to the Inspector General of Fortifications in 1891.[5] He then took command of HMS Mercury on the China station returning to England in 1897 to be Private Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty in 1897.[2][5] In 1899 he was appointed an Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria.[2] He was promoted to Rear Admiral on 1 January 1901,[6] and went on to command the Cruiser Squadron in 1902[7] before being appointed Commander-in-Chief, Australia Station in 1905.[5] He became Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth in 1908 and retired in 1911.[5]
Retirement
Fawkes had married Juliana Hannah Mary Spicer in 1875 and when he retired in 1911 they lived at Steel Cross, Crowborough.[2] His wife died in 1916, and Fawkes died suddenly in 1926 at Spye Park, Chippenham when he was visiting his brother-in-law Captain Spicer.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 The Dreadnought Project
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Admiral Sir Wilmot Fawkes" (Obituaries). The Times (London). Monday, 31 May 1926. (44285), col B, p. 19.
- ↑ "Fawkes, Wilmot Hawksworth (FWKS872WH)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
- ↑ Royal Navy Flag Officers 1904 – 1975
- 1 2 3 4 Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27262. p. 4. 1 January 1901.
- ↑ Commemorative medal National Maritime Museum
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Hedworth Lambton |
Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty 1897–1899 |
Succeeded by Maurice Bourke |
| Preceded by Maurice Bourke |
Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty 1900–1902 |
Succeeded by Hugh Tyrwhitt |
| Preceded by Sir Arthur Fanshawe |
Commander-in-Chief, Australia Station 1905–1907 |
Succeeded by Sir Richard Poore |
| Preceded by Sir Lewis Beaumont |
Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth 1908–1911 |
Succeeded by Sir William May |