Robert Stewart Phipps Hornby

Admiral Robert Stewart Phipps Hornby, C.M.G., J.P., Royal Navy (9 July, 1866 – 13 August, 1956) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Hornby was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant dated 9 July, 1886.

Hornby was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1898.

On 1 January, 1903 he was promoted to the rank of Captain.

In October 1904, he assumed command of the second class protected cruiser Diana.

He served as captain of Glory from March 1907 through September 1908.

Hornby was appointed Captain of H.M.S. Vernon on 18 October, 1908, a post he would retain for three years.

He was appointed command of the battlecruiser Inflexible on 8 May, 1912.

He served as captain of Monarch from December 1912 through June 1913.

Phipps Hornby was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 15 May, 1913, vice Brock.

Great War

On 1 August, 1914, Hornby was appointed Rear-Admiral Commanding Cruiser Force E (the Eleventh Cruiser Squadron), with his flag in the Doris. On 5 September he transferred his flag to the battleship Glory as Rear-Admiral Commanding Cruiser Force H on the North America and West Indies Station. In February, 1915, he became Rear-Admiral Commanding on the North America and West Indies Station, and on 7 March became Second-in-Command on that station to Vice-Admiral Sir George E. Patey. He hauled down his flag on 21 June, and his last day on full pay was on the 27th.

In September, 1917, he was appointed president of an Admiralty Committee to investigate a range of topics including the suitability of the existing system of torpedo personnel, though it had not issued its report as of late August, 1918.

Hornby was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral, vice Peirse, on 11 March, 1918.

Post-War

Hornby was promoted to the rank of Admiral in the place of Sir Stanley Colville, placed on the Retired List, on 4 April, 1922. Hornby was himself placed on the Retired List "at his own request" on 6 April.

Bibliography

• "Adml. Phipps Hornby" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 15 August, 1956. Issue 53610, col D, p. 10.

Papers

• Papers in the possession of the National Maritime Museum. For a detailed list see Robert Phipps Hornby Papers at the National Maritime Museum.

Service Records

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

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Philip W. Dumas	Captain of H.M. T.B. 94 8 Jul, 1896	Succeeded by Arthur C. Gotto
Preceded by Reginald G. O. Tupper	Captain of H.M.S. Pylades 1 Sep, 1901	Succeeded by Herbert C. C. Da Costa
Preceded by Arthur H. Christian	Captain of H.M.S. Highflyer 14 Jul, 1904	Succeeded by Henry H. Campbell
Preceded by David Beatty	Captain of H.M.S. Diana 5 Oct, 1904 – 5 Nov, 1906	Succeeded by Heathcoat S. Grant
Preceded by Ernest C. T. Troubridge	Captain of H.M.S. Glory 5 Mar, 1907 – Sep, 1908	Succeeded by William C. Pakenham
Preceded by Douglas A. Gamble	Captain of H.M.S. Vernon 18 Oct, 1908 – 1 Nov, 1911	Succeeded by William C. M. Nicholson
Preceded by Cyril E. Tower	Captain of H.M.S. Swiftsure 19 Jan, 1912 – 14 May, 1912	Succeeded by Guy R. A. Gaunt
Preceded by Richard F. Phillimore	Captain of H.M.S. Inflexible 14 May, 1912 – 4 Nov, 1912	Succeeded by Arthur N. Loxley
Preceded by Charles F. Sowerby	Captain of H.M.S. Monarch Dec, 1912 – 16 Jun, 1913	Succeeded by Edmund H. Smith
Preceded by Bernard Currey	President of Anti-Submarine Committee 16 Dec, 1913 – 31 Jul, 1914	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by ?	Rear-Admiral in Command, Eighth Battle Squadron Jul, 1914	Succeeded by Henry L. Tottenham
Preceded by New Command	Rear-Admiral Commanding, Cruiser Squadron E 1 Aug, 1914 – 5 Sep, 1914	Succeeded by Henry L. Tottenham
Preceded by Sir Christopher G. F. M. Cradock as Rear Admiral Commanding, Fourth Cruiser Squadron	Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station Feb, 1915	Succeeded by Sir George E. Patey
Preceded by ?	Second-in-Command, North America and West Indies Station Mar, 1915 – 21 Jun, 1915	Succeeded by Morgan Singer