Ernest Humbert Grafton

Vice-Admiral Ernest Humbert Grafton, Royal Navy, Retired (4 August, 1864 – 18 August, 1924) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 1 October, 1886.

Working from a small craft Olga from H.M.S. Griffon, Grafton was commended for destroying two slaver dhows on 7 July, 1888 by driving them ashore near Zanzibar. The human cargo was landed and lost. Grafton destroyed the vessels.

On 20 February, 1895, Grafton was appointed to the Royal Sovereign as Flag Lieutenant to Vice-Admiral FitzRoy.

Grafton was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 January, 1899.

Captain

Grafton was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1905.

He assumed command of the first class protected cruiser Endymion in June 1906.

Grafton was appointed in command of the armoured cruiser Good Hope on 15 July, 1907.

In October 1910, he became captain of the battleship Victorious, remaining there until some time in 1911.

Grafton was appointed captain of the battleship London on 14 May, 1912, remaining there for fifteen months.

Promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 15 June, 1916, vice Da Costa. Grafton himself was placed on the Retired List, in accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December, 1903, "at his own request" on 16 June, 1916.

He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 25 November, 1920.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/88.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/42.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/20.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Charles G. May	Captain of H.M.S. Redpole 28 Aug, 1895 – 1 Mar, 1898	Succeeded by Charles P. R. Coode
Preceded by Alfred E. A. Grant	Captain of H.M.S. Pyramus 12 Jan, 1903 – 23 Dec, 1904	Succeeded by Maurice S. FitzMaurice
Preceded by William O. Boothby	Captain of H.M.S. Endymion 1 Jun, 1906 – 14 Jul, 1907	Succeeded by James C. Ley
Preceded by George P. W. Hope	Captain of H.M.S. Good Hope 15 Jul, 1907 – 24 Feb, 1909	Succeeded by The Hon. Hubert G. Brand
Preceded by Herbert W. James	Captain of H.M.S. Terrible 20 Jul, 1909	Succeeded by John R. Segrave
Preceded by Edward G. W. Davy	Captain of H.M.S. Vengeance 24 Jun, 1910 – 5 Aug, 1910	Succeeded by Frederic G. Bird
Preceded by Joseph R. Bridson	Captain of H.M.S. Victorious 4 Oct, 1910 – 1 Aug, 1911	Succeeded by James R. P. Hawksley
Preceded by John Luce	Captain of H.M.S. Hibernia 23 Jan, 1912 – 13 May, 1912	Succeeded by Hugh F. P. Sinclair
Preceded by Hugh F. P. Sinclair	Captain of H.M.S. London 14 May, 1912 – 15 Sep, 1913	Succeeded by Thomas W. Kemp
Preceded by Thomas Y. Greet	Captain of Chatham Dockyard 16 Sep, 1913 – 23 Oct, 1916	Succeeded by Mortimer L'E. Silver