William Lowther Grant

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Admiral Sir W. Lowther Grant as a Vice-Admiral, 1918.
Portrait: Francis Dodd. © IWM (Art.IWM ART 1740).

Admiral SIR William Lowther Grant, K.C.B., Royal Navy (10 November, 1864 – 30 January, 1929) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

At the examination for Naval Cadetships, Grant placed twenty-third out of the successful batch of forty-six.[1]

Grant was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 10 May, 1884,[2] under Circular 1 N of 1 February, 1884.

He was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 32 on 7 July, 1887, for manoeuvres.[3]

In June, 1896, Grant was commended for his "zeal and ability" in preparing a report on trials of a Howell Torpedo at Newport, Rhode Island.[4]

In March, 1897, Grant was appointed in command of the torpedo cruiser Tartar, but he was only there for a single month before being appointed as first lieutenant in Crescent.[5] Promotion to the rank of Commander was posted on 22 June, 1897.[6]

Captain

Grant was specially promoted to the rank of Captain on 21 October, 1900, for services in South Africa.[7]

Grant was appointed in command of the elderly Monarch in May, 1902.[8]

He was appointed in command of Sutlej in November, 1904.[9]

He assumed command of the first class protected cruiser Hawke in May, 1905.[10]

Grant was appointed in command of the Cornwallis on 14 January, 1907.[11]

Grant was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 26 October, 1909, vice Fisher.[12] He was just under the age of forty-five when promoted. At Sheerness on 9 August, 1910 Grant succeeded Rear-Admiral T. H. Martyn Jerram as Rear-Admiral for special service with the Vice-Admiral Commanding the Third and Fourth Divisions of the Home Fleet.[13] On the occasion of King George V's coronation he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 19 June, 1911.[14] He was relieved at Sheerness on 2 November by Rear-Admiral Charles H. Dundas of Dundas.[15]

Great War

Admiral William L. Grant as a Vice-Admiral, 1917.
Portrait: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

For the mobilisation of the Third Fleet in the Summer of 1914, Grant was given command of the Sixth Cruiser Squadron, flying his flag in the Good Hope.[16] On 1 August, 1914, Grant hoisted his flag in Drake,[17] again in command of the Sixth Cruiser Squadron.[18]

On 15 July, 1915, Grant was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral, vice Moggridge.[19] On 27 July he was appointed Commander-in-Chief on the China Station and assumed command on 24 September.[20]

On 1 January, 1917, Grant was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.).[21]

On 7 January, 1918, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief on the North America and West Indies Station.[22]

Grant was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 1 September, 1918, vice Bethell.[23]

He struck his flag as Commander-in-Chief on 8 February, 1919.[24] His service record contains an effusive note of appreciation from the American Secretary of the Navy expressing his "sincere regret" at the departure of "this talented and gifted officer."[25]

Grant was placed on the Retired List "at his own request to facilitate the promotion of younger officers" on 24 March, 1920.[26]

See Also

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Sir Lowther Grant" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 31 January, 1929. Issue 45115, col D, p. 14.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
?
Captain of H.M. T.B. 32
7 Jul, 1887[27][28] – 19 Aug, 1887[29]
Succeeded by
Bertie A. Cator
Preceded by
Lewis Bayly
Captain of H.M. T.B. 80
11 Jul, 1893[30] – 17 Aug, 1893[31]
Succeeded by
Charles E. Madden
Preceded by
Frederick G. Stopford
Captain of H.M.S. Tartar
2 Mar, 1897[32] – 7 Apr, 1897[33]
Succeeded by
John T. White
Preceded by
Reginald C. Prothero
Captain of H.M.S. Doris
4 Jan, 1901[34] – 16 Mar, 1901[35]
Succeeded by
Frederick R. W. Morgan
Preceded by
Charles H. Bayly
Captain of H.M.S. Monarch
5 May, 1902[36]
Succeeded by
Cunningham R. de C. Foot
Preceded by
?
Naval Adviser to the Army Council
7 Oct, 1902[37]
Succeeded by
Richard P. F. Purefoy
Preceded by
Richard B. Farquhar
Naval Adviser to the Inspector-General of Fortifications
7 Oct, 1902[38]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Robert H. Johnston Stewart
Captain of H.M.S. Sutlej
19 Nov, 1904[39] – 14 May, 1906[40]
Succeeded by
Francis S. Miller
Preceded by
Francis S. Miller
Captain of H.M.S. Hawke
15 May, 1906[41] – 13 Jan, 1907[42]
Succeeded by
Drury St. A. Wake
Preceded by
Charles H. Coke
Captain of H.M.S. Cornwallis
14 Jan, 1907[43][44] – 3 Jun, 1908[45]
Succeeded by
William H. Baker-Baker
Preceded by
Herbert G. King-Hall
Head of Foreign Division
25 Jun, 1908[46] – 20 Dec, 1909[47]
Succeeded by
Thomas Jackson
Preceded by
Dudley R. S. de Chair
as Rear-Admiral Commanding, Sixth Cruiser Squadron
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Mediterranean Cruiser Squadron
1 Aug, 1914[48][49] – 12 Mar, 1915[50]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
William C. Pakenham
as Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Cruiser Squadron
Vice-Admiral Commanding, Third Cruiser Squadron
11 Mar, 1915[51] – 28 Jul, 1915[52]
Succeeded by
Montague E. Browning
as Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Cruiser Squadron
Preceded by
Sir T. H. Martyn Jerram
Commander-in-Chief, China Station
28 Jul, 1915[53] – 25 Oct, 1917[54]
Succeeded by
Sir Frederick C. T. Tudor
Preceded by
Sir Montague E. Browning
Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station
7 Jan, 1918[55] – Jan, 1919[56]
Succeeded by
Morgan Singer

Footnotes

  1. "Naval Cadetships" (News). The Times. Saturday, 30 June, 1877. Issue 28982, col A, p. 14.
  2. The London Gazette: no. 25461. p. 1670. 14 April, 1885.
  3. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 2 July, 1887. Issue 32114, col C, p. 12.
  4. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 98.
  5. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 98.
  6. The London Gazette: no. 26865. p. 3443. 22 June, 1897.
  7. The London Gazette: no. 27244. p. 6779. 6 November, 1900.
  8. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 98.
  9. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 98.
  10. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 98.
  11. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 24 December, 1906. Issue 38211, col C, p. 4.
  12. The London Gazette: no. 28306. p. 8246. 9 November, 1909.
  13. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 9 August, 1910. Issue 39346, col D, p. 7.
  14. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 28505. p. 4588. 19 June, 1911.
  15. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 2 November, 1911. Issue 39732, col C, p. 4.
  16. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 17 July, 1914. Issue 40578, col E, p. 10.
  17. "New Sea Lord" (News). The Times. Friday, 7 August, 1914. Issue 40597, col D, p. 4.
  18. Goldrick. The King's Ships were at Sea. p. 27.
  19. The London Gazette: no. 29236. p. 7073. 20 July, 1915.
  20. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). p. 8.
  21. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29886. p. 1. 1 January, 1917.
  22. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 6.
  23. The London Gazette: no. 30887. p. 10549. 6 September, 1918.
  24. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. p. 34.
  25. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 98.
  26. The London Gazette: no. 31867. p. 4474. 16 April, 1920.
  27. "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. Saturday, 2 July, 1887. Issue 32114, col C, p. 12.
  28. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 254/512.
  29. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 254/512.
  30. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 254/512.
  31. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 254/512.
  32. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 512.
  33. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 512.
  34. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 254/512.
  35. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 254/512.
  36. Wikipedia.
  37. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20/514.
  38. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20/514.
  39. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 254/512.
  40. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 254/512.
  41. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 254/512.
  42. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 254/512.
  43. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 24 December, 1907. Issue 38211, col C, p. 4.
  44. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 254/512.
  45. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 254/512.
  46. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 216.
  47. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 216.
  48. "New Sea Lord" (News). The Times. Friday, 7 August, 1914. Issue 40597, col D, p. 4.
  49. Goldrick. The King's Ships were at Sea. p. 27.
  50. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 254/512.
  51. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 14.
  52. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 98.
  53. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. p. 33.
  54. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 254/512.
  55. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 34.
  56. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 98.