Arthur Murray Farquhar

File:Arthur Farquhar Magnificent.jpg

Farquhar as a Captain in Magnificent, c. 1905.
From official officers' photograph in album of George Napier Tomlin.

Admiral SIR Arthur Murray Farquhar, K.C.B., C.V.O., R.N. (19 January, 1855 – 16 November, 1937) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

Farquhar was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant from the Victoria and Albert with seniority of 18 August, 1876.

He was appointed Flag Lieutenant to Vice-Admiral Sir William M. Dowell, Commander-in-Chief on the China Station, on 3 January, 1884.

Farquhar was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1889. On 20 December he was appointed to the turret ship Ajax, additional, for the Highlands and Islands Commission.

Farquhar received his first shipboard command when he was appointed to command the screw sloop Buzzard in September, 1893.

Farquhar was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1896.

After completing a gunnery course at Excellent, he was appointed in command of the third class protected cruiser Wallaroo in February, 1899.

On 15 January 1901, he was appointed in command of the second class protected cruiser Diana and remained in her until being superseded on 25 April, 1902. On 20 May, he was appointed to command Renown and assumed command on 14 June. He commanded her for almost two years, paying her off on 15 April, 1904. He was appointed in command of the battleship Magnificent on 16 July, 1904 and was commended for greatly improving her gunnery before paying her off in November 1906, being awarded the Legion of Honour, Fourth Class in July 1905.

Flag Rank

Farquhar was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 17 November, 1906, vice Langley.

Farquhar succeeded Rear-Admiral Inglefield in command of the Fourth Cruiser Squadron on 8 February, 1909. In late 1910, he took the squadron to Buenos Aires and was commended for a successful cruise.

Farquhar was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 17 July, 1911, vice Poore.

On 12 February, 1912 he was appointed to a Signal Course.

Farquhar was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 1 January, 1914. He was promoted to the rank of Admiral dated 14 September. He was placed on the Retired List on 9 June, 1916, at his own request, in accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December, 1903.

Bibliography

• "Admiral Sir Arthur Farquhar" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 17 November, 1937. Issue 47844, col C, p. 10.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/87.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/38.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/19.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Spencer H. M. Login	Rear-Admiral Commanding, Portsmouth Division, Home Fleet 1907 – 1908	Succeeded by Paul W. Bush

Naval Appointments
Preceded by William L. H. Browne	Captain of H.M.S. Buzzard 26 Sep, 1893 – after Feb, 1896	Succeeded by Leicester F. Gartside-Tippinge
Preceded by George N. A. Pollard	Captain of H.M.S. Wallaroo Feb, 1899 – 13 Jan, 1900	Succeeded by Francis C. M. Noel
Preceded by Henry C. A. Baynes	Captain of H.M.S. Diana 15 Jan, 1901 – 25 Apr, 1902	Succeeded by Edmond J. W. Slade
Preceded by The Hon. Hugh Tyrwhitt	Captain of H.M.S. Renown 20 May, 1902 – 15 Apr, 1904	Succeeded by Thomas B. S. Adair
Preceded by Sackville H. Carden	Captain of H.M.S. Magnificent 16 Jul, 1904 – 5 Nov, 1906	Succeeded by Richard B. Farquhar
Preceded by Frederick S. Inglefield	Rear-Admiral Commanding, Fourth Cruiser Squadron 8 Feb, 1909 – 8 Feb, 1911	Succeeded by Edward E. Bradford
Preceded by Sir Frederick S. Inglefield	Admiral Commanding Coastguard and Reserves 1 Jan, 1913 – 1 Jun, 1915	Succeeded by The Hon. Sir Alexander E. Bethell