John Kingcome
Admiral SIR John Kingcome, K.C.B., Royal Navy (14 February, 1793 – 7 August, 1871) was an officer of the Royal Navy. It is often stated that he was the last man from the lower deck to reach Flag Rank during the Nineteenth Century, [1] but given that Kingcome wasn't a member of the lower deck, it's a dubious claim.
Early Life & Career
John Kingcome was the son of Henry Kingcome, a fisherman from Noss, on the River Yealm. He came to the attention of Captain (later Admiral Sir) Frederick Lewis Maitland, who entered him into the Royal Navy as a second class volunteer in the Emerald, 36, on 28 May, 1808.[2] He served in the Emerald and Tigre in the Channel, Irish and Cape of Good Hope Stations. In May, 1813, he joined Captain Maitland again in the Goliath, 74, on the North America Station. In July, 1814, he was appointed Master's Mate of the St. Lawrence, 112, flagship of Commodore Sir James Lucas Yeo on Lake Ontario, who on 9 March, 1815, nominated him Acting Lieutenant of the Princess Charlotte. He was confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant on 1 July.[3][4]
He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 8 January, 1828.[5]
Flag Rank
Kingcome was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral of the Blue dated 9 September, 1857.[6] He was advanced to Rear-Admiral of the White dated 9 June, 1860.[7] He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral of the Red on 5 February, 1863.[8]
He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral of the Blue on 5 March, 1864.[9] On 28 March, 1865, he was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Military Division of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.).[10] In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 24 March, 1866, he was placed on the Retired List on 6 April, 1866.[11] He was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List dated 10 September, 1869.[12]
Kingcome died at 5, Windsor Villas, Plymouth, on 7 August, 1871.[13]
Bibliography
- Admiralty Office (1830). A List of Flag Officers and Other Commissioned Officers of His Majesty's Fleet; with the Dates of their Respective Commissions. London: Joseph Hartnell.
- O'Byrne, William R., Esq. (1849). A Naval Biographical Dictionary: Comprising the Life and Services of Every Living Officer in Her Majesty's Navy, From the Rank of Admiral of the Fleet to that of Lieutenant, Inclusive. Volume I. London: John Murray.
Service Record
- The National Archives. ADM 196/5.
Footnotes
- ↑ Winton in Hill. The Oxford Illustrated History of the Royal Navy. p. 274.
- ↑ "Prospects of the Lower Deck" (Letters to the Editor). The Times. Thursday, 20 March, 1919. Issue 42053, col C, p. 8.
- ↑ The Navy List, Corrected to the End of September, 1816. p. 28.
- ↑ A Naval Biographical Dictionary. I. p. 616.
- ↑ A List of the Flag Officers and Other Commissioned Officers of His Majesty's Fleet. p. 52.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 22043. p. 3196. 25 September, 1857.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 22395. p. 2265. 15 June, 1860.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 22705. p. 646. 6 February, 1863.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 22831. p. 1484. 11 March, 1864.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 22952. p. 1731. 28 March, 1865.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 23097. p. 2254. 6 April, 1866.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 23537. p. 5108. 17 September, 1869.
- ↑ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) (1872). p. 253.
