William Arthur
Rear-Admiral William Arthur,[1] C.B. (4 July, 1830 – 15 November, 1886) served in the Royal Navy. At one point in his career he was reputed to have "the greatest number of medals of any officer in the Service".
Life & Career
William Arthur was born at Atherington, Devon, on 4 July, 1830, the second son of the Reverend James Arthur, rector of Atherington. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School and joined the Royal Navy in 1845. He served in the Calliope during the Māori Wars from 1845 to 1847, earning the New Zealand Medal. He was Midshipman in the Styx during the Kaffir War from 1851 to 1852, being promoted Acting Mate on 29 August, 1851. He was awarded the South Africa Medal, 1853.
Arthur was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 8 March, 1854.
Arthur was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 April, 1861. On 1 August Nimrod paid off and he went on half pay. After two years he was appointed to the Landrail on 14 May, 1863, which he paid off on 13 March, 1864. He was then appointed Commander of the Excellent on 22 March, where he remained until the customary gunnery ship promotion to the rank of Captain on 15 April, 1867, aged 36. He returned to half pay, where he languished for the usual long period until he was appointed Captain of the Iron Duke on 31 August, 1871, on the China Station. He remained there for almost five years, paying Iron Duke off on 18 May, 1875. On 26 April Arthur became the first captain of H.M.S. Vernon as an independent torpedo training school. He held this important command for three years before going on half pay on 1 July, 1879. In December he was appointed Naval Attaché at Washington, D.C. It was at this time he was said to have had "the greatest number of medals of any officer in the Service".
On 24 May, 1881, he was appointed a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.). He returned in the United Kingdom on 5 March, 1882.
On 2 October, 1882, he was appointed to the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, for a voluntary course of study, but was appointed to the Hector, Coast Guard ship, on 28 November. He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 31 March, 1885, less than four months before he would have been compulsorily retired for age. He gave up command of Hector the same day.
He died at Bakeham Grange, Egham, on 15 November, 1886, aged 56. Queen Victoria is reported to have visited him the day before he died to inquire about his health.
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.S. Iron Duke 31 Aug, 1871[2] – 18 May, 1875 |
Succeeded by Henry D. Hickley |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.S. Vernon 26 Apr, 1876[3] – 30 Jun, 1879 |
Succeeded by William E. Gordon |
| Preceded by Edward A. Inglefield |
Royal Navy Naval Attaché at Washington, D.C. 1 Dec, 1879[4] – 15 Mar, 1882[5] |
Succeeded by Reginald N. Custance |
Footnotes
- ↑ It has been claimed that Arthur had an unidentified middle name beginning with "C". However, there is no evidence to support this. See, for example, Wikipedia: William C. Arthur. and Thompson. "Note: Port Arthur." 54.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1872). p. 157.
- ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1879). p. 249.
- ↑ Arthur Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/13/335. f. ?.
- ↑ Arthur Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/13/335. f. ?.
Bibliography
- Biographies of Celebrities for the People. London: John and Robert Maxwell. 1885.
- "Death of a Distinguished Devonshire Officer." Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 17 November, 1886. p. 2.
- Thompson, Edgar K. (February, 1976). "Notes: Port Arthur." The Mariner's Mirror. Vol. 62. No. I. p. 54.
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/36/79.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/13/355.
