View source for Montague Edward Browning

[[File:Browning, NPG x65721.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Admiral Sir Montague E. Browning, 1919.<br><small>© National Portrait Gallery, London.</small>]]

[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] {{SIR}} '''Montague Edward Browning''', G.C.B., G.C.M.G, G.C.V.O., R.N. (18 January, 1863 &ndash; 4 November, 1947) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]] during the [[First World War]].

==Early Life & Career==
Browning was born in Bury St. Edmuns, Suffolk. 

Browning was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 30 June, 1885.{{Gaz|25485|3002|30 June, 1885}}

He was lent to the {{UK-1Inflexible|f=tp}} as Gunnery Officer for the [[Annual Manoeuvres of 1889|annual manœuvres]] on 18 July, 1889.  He would lose his left hand in an accident on 15 August on board ''Inflexible''.  He was surveyed and, probably unsurprisingly under the circumstances, found medically unfit on 7 November.  It was recommended that he not be re-surveyed for two months or more.  On 20 November it was decided that he be kept on the books of ''Excellent'' until he recovered.  Surveyed on 21 January, 1890, he was reported to be fit, "having been fitted with an efficient mechanical substitute for the hand."

Browning was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 1 January, 1897.{{Gaz|26809|4|1 January, 1897}}

==Captain==
Browning was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 1 January, 1902.{{Gaz|27393|3|3 January, 1902}}  On 5 June, he assumed command of the {{UK-Ariadne|f=t}}.<ref>Browning Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42/104.}}</ref>

Browning was captain of {{UK-Commonwealth}} from 1907 until February 1908.{{MackieRNW}} On 1 February, 1908, he was appointed to {{UK-KingEdwardVII}}, additional, as Chief of the Staff to Admiral [[Charles William de la Poer Beresford, First Baron Beresford|Lord Charles Beresford]], Commander-in-Chief of the [[Channel Fleet (Royal Navy)|Channel Fleet]]. He went on half pay on 27 March, 1909, following which he requested to be considered for command of a first class battleship.<ref>McKenna to Asquith. Letter of 29 October, 1909. Asquith Papers.</ref> He commanded the {{UK-Britannia|f=t}} from July 1909 until the end of 1910.{{MackieRNW}} On 5 January, 1911, he was appointed [[Inspector of Target Practice (Royal Navy)|Inspector of Target Practice]].<ref>Browning Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42/104.}}</ref>

==Flag Rank==
On 5 January, 1911 Browning was appointed as the Navy's fourth and final [[Inspector of Target Practice (Royal Navy)|Inspector of Target Practice]], in succession to [[Richard Henry Peirse|Richard H. Peirse]].{{NLMar13|p. 360}}

Browning was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 22 September, 1911, vice [[Thomas Philip Walker|Walker]].{{Gaz|28534|7010|26 September, 1911}}

In a 1912 letter to [[Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill|Winston Churchill]], the [[First Lord of the Admiralty]], [[John Arbuthnot Fisher, First Baron Fisher|Lord Fisher]] described Browning as a "Psalm-singing fool."<ref>Fisher to Churchill, 5 March, 1912.  ''Fear God and Dread Nought''.  '''ii'''.  p. 439.</ref>

After the abolition of the post of Inspector of Target Practice, Browning was appointed Rear-Admiral of the {{UK-BS|3}} of the [[Home Fleets (Royal Navy)|First Fleet]] on 29 August, 1913, hoisting his flag aboard the {{UK-Hibernia}} the same day.{{NLDec13|p. 267}}

==Great War==
Browning was still Rear-Admiral, Third Battle Squadron, and still in the {{UK-Hibernia}}, at the outbreak of the war.

On 27 July, 1915 he was appointed to the command of the {{UK-CS|3}}, with his flag in the {{UK-Antrim}},{{SMNLNov15|p. 6}} which with the Third Battle Squadron had been stationed at Rosyth since the war began. In April, 1916 both squadrons were detached from the Grand Fleet and moved to the Swin (Thames estuary), then returned north after the battle of Jutland.  In the King's Birthday Honours of 3 June, 1916, 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.).{{GazSup|29608|5553|2 June, 1916}}

In August, 1916 Browning was appointed Commander-in-Chief on the [[North America and West Indies Station]] with the acting rank of {{ViceRN}}, and he assumed command with his flag in the {{UK-Leviathan}} on 13 September.{{SMNLSep17|p. 7}}  In that capacity he represented his country in discussions with the United States naval authorities on joint action in the conduct of the war at sea. He was confirmed in the rank of Vice-Admiral on 26 April, 1917.{{Gaz|30037|3955|27 April, 1917}}  On the occasion of the King's birthday he 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.) on 4 June.{{GazSup|30111|5454|4 June, 1917}}

In February, 1918, he returned to the Grand Fleet to take command of the {{UK-BS|4}} with his flag in the {{UK-Hercules}}.

==Post-War==
After the armistice of November, 1918 he was appointed president of the allied naval armistice commission, and paid visits in the ''Hercules'' to the German naval ports to see that the settled terms were duly carried out.  The economist J. M. Keynes alleged that Browning had "no idea in his head but the extirpation and further humiliation of a despised and defeated enemy."<ref>Keynes.  ''Two Memoirs''.  p. 13</ref>  Browning joined the Board of Admiralty as [[Second Sea Lord]] in March, 1919 and was promoted to the rank of {{AdmRN}} on 1 November.{{Gaz|31632|13545|7 November, 1919}}  He became [[Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth|Commander-in-Chief]] for three years in September, 1920.  

Browning was appointed an Ordinary Member of the First Class, or Knight Grand Cross, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (G.C.B.) on the occasion of the King's birthday on 3 June, 1924.{{GazSup|32941|4408|3 June, 1924}}  He was appointed [[First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp]] in May, 1925 and placed on the Retired List on 4 October, 1926.{{Gaz|33209|6440|8 October, 1926}}  He returned to court duty in March, 1929 as [[Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom]], became [[Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom]] in February, 1939, and finally retired in June, 1945.

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*"Admiral Sir Montague Browning" (Obituaries).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 6 November, 1947.  Issue '''50911''', col E, p. 7.
*Baddeley, V. W. (1959).  ''Dictionary of National Biography: 1941-1950 Supplement''.  London: Oxford University Press.
{{refend}}

==Papers==
{{refbegin}}
*Papers in the possession of the Imperial War Museum.
{{refend}}

==Service Records==
{{refbegin}}
*{{TNA|ADM 196/87.|D8115361}}
*{{TNA|ADM 196/42.|D8112170}}
*{{TNA|ADM 196/20.|D7590657}}
{{refend}}

<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Joseph Honner|Joseph Honner]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Kite (1871)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Kite'']]'''<br>5 Jan, 1894{{NLApr94|p. 231}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur William Waymouth|Arthur W. Waymouth]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[William Stokes Rees|William S. Rees]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Ariadne (1898)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Ariadne'']]'''<br>5 Jun, 1902<ref>Browning Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 124.</ref> &ndash; 19 Oct, 1904<ref>Browning Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/20.}}  f. 429.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Archibald Gordon Henry Wilson Moore|A. Gordon H. W. Moore]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Cecil Fiennes Thursby|Cecil F. Thursby]]'''|'''[[Plymouth Station|Flag Captain, Plymouth Station]]'''<br>20 Mar, 1905<ref>Browning Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 124.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Edward Stafford Fitzherbert, Thirteenth Baron Stafford|Edward S. Fitzherbert]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Richard Henry Peirse|Richard H. Peirse]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Commonwealth (1903)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Commonwealth'']]'''<br>28 May, 1907<ref>Browning Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 124.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Godfrey Harry Brydges Mundy|Godfrey H. B. Mundy]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Frederick Robert William Morgan|Frederick R. W. Morgan]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Britannia (1904)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Britannia'']]'''<br>27 Jul, 1909<ref>Browning Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 124.</ref>{{NLJan10|p. 287}} &ndash; 1910|Succeeded by<br>'''[[George Alexander Ballard|George A. Ballard]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Richard Henry Peirse|Richard H. Peirse]]'''|'''[[Inspector of Target Practice (Royal Navy)|Inspector of Target Practice]]'''<br>5 Jan, 1911<ref>Browning Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 124.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''Position Abolished'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Cecil Fiennes Thursby|Cecil F. Thursby]]'''|'''[[Third Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral, Second-in-Command, Third Battle Squadron]]'''<br>29 Aug, 1913{{UKCeased|p. 4}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Sydney Robert Fremantle|Sydney R. Fremantle]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[William Lowther Grant|William L. Grant]]'''<br><small>as '''Vice-Admiral Commanding, Third Cruiser Squadron'''</small>|'''[[Third Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Cruiser Squadron]]'''<br>27 Jul, 1915{{UKCeased|f. 14}} &ndash; 15 Aug, 1916|Succeeded by<br>'''Formation Dissolved'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[George Edwin Patey|Sir George E. Patey]]'''|'''[[North America and West Indies Station|Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station]]'''<br>16 Aug, 1916{{UKCeased|f. 34}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[William Lowther Grant|Sir William L. Grant]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee, First Baronet|Sir F. C. Doveton Sturdee, Bart.]]'''<br><small>as '''Admiral Commanding, Fourth Battle Squadron'''</small>|'''[[Fourth Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral Commanding, Fourth Battle Squadron]]'''<br>12 Feb, 1918<ref>Browning Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42}}.  f. 309.</ref> &ndash; ''c''. 3 Dec, 1918<ref>Nicholson is noted as assuming temporary command.  Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42}}.  f. 290.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Douglas Romilly Lothian Nicholson|Douglas R. L. Nicholson]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Douglas Romilly Lothian Nicholson|Douglas R. L. Nicholson]]'''|'''[[Fourth Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral Commanding, Fourth Battle Squadron]]'''<br>1 Feb, 1919<ref>His temporary replacement vacated the post.  Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42}}.  f. 290.</ref> &ndash; 30 Mar, 1919|Succeeded by<br>'''Command Abolished'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Herbert Leopold Heath|Sir Herbert L. Heath]]'''|'''[[Second Sea Lord|Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel]]'''<br>31 Mar, 1919{{UKNavalStaff|p. 119}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Henry Francis Oliver|Sir Henry F. Oliver]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Cecil Fiennes Thursby|Sir Cecil F. Thursby]]'''|'''[[Plymouth Station|Commander in Chief, Plymouth Station]]'''<br>30 Sep, 1920<ref>Browning Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/20.}}  p. 429.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Richard Fortescue Phillimore|Sir Richard F. Phillimore]]'''}}
{{TabCourt}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Somerset Arthur Gough-Calthorpe|The Hon. Sir Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe]]'''|'''[[First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp|First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp]]'''<br>8 May, 1925{{Gaz|33049|3445|22 May, 1925}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur Cavenagh Leveson|Sir Arthur C. Leveson]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Stanley Cecil James Colville|Stanley C. J. Colville]]'''|'''[[Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom|Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom]]'''<br>22 Mar, 1929<ref>Browning Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 309.</ref> &ndash; 6 Feb, 1939<ref>Browning Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 309.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Hubert George Brand|Hubert G. Brand]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Stanley Cecil James Colville|Stanley C. J. Colville]]'''|'''[[Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom|Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom]]'''<br>6 Feb, 1939<ref>Browning Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 309.</ref> &ndash; 19 Jun, 1945<ref>Browning Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 309.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Martin Eric Dunbar-Nasmith|Sir Martin E. Dunbar-Nasmith]]'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Browning, Montague}}

{{CatPerson|UK|1863|1947}}
{{CatBritannia|July, 1876}}
{{CatGunneryOfficer|UK}}
{{CatAdm|UK}}
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order]]
{{CatRN}}