Henry Bradwardine Jackson

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry B. Jackson.

Admiral of the Fleet SIR Henry Bradwardine Jackson, G.C.B., K.C.V.O., F.R.S., Royal Navy (21 January, 1855 – 14 December, 1929) was an officer of the Royal Navy and a pioneer in Wireless Telegraphy.

Early Life & Career

Jackson was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 January, 1890. On 1 July he was appointed to Vernon for Torpedo Duties and on 6 September, 1890, he was appointed to the battleship Edinburgh in the Mediterranean, where he remained until she paid off on 23 January, 1894. Captain John W. Brackenbury wrote of him, "V.G.I. [Very Good Indeed] Brilliant officer of great zeal & ability, most worthy of promotion." On 5 February he was reappointed to the Vernon for temporary service on the Committee on Torpedo Designs.

Captain

On 29 January, 1895, Jackson was appointed to H.M.S. Defiance in command. On 30 June, 1896, he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and reappointed to Defiance so as to complete three years' service. In July, 1897 he was given temporary command of the Plymouth flotilla of torpedo boat destroyers for a three day programme of exercises. He was superseded on 1 November, 1897 and appointed Naval Attaché to "the Embassies & Legations in [the] Maritime Powers [of Europe] and America," in succession to Captain Lewis E. Wintz. He was appointed to the Juno for manœuvres on 11 July, 1899.

On 9 December, 1899 he was appointed to H.M.S. Vulcan, for command of the Mediterranean Station torpedo boats. After a September, 1900 inspection, the Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Sir John A. Fisher wrote, "I cannot speak too highly of this officer's ability & his usefulness in the exercises of the fleet & the excellent use he makes of the resources of the Vulcan." In January, 1901, he was called back to Britain "to consult with Vernon as to Wireless Telegraph apparatus." In January, 1902, Admiral Fisher wrote of Jackson:

I cannot speak too highly of this officer. He is a thorough Master of every branch of his profession & equally excels as a practical as well as a scientific officer. It is to be regretted that seniority alone can place him on the Flag List.

Flag Rank

Jackson was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 18 October, 1906, vice Durnford. On 16 October, 1908, he was appointed Rear-Admiral Commanding the Third Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean. In 1909 the squadron was renamed the Sixth Cruiser Squadron, and he gave up command on 10 October, 1910, arriving back in Britain on the 15th. In November he succeeded Sir Douglas A. Gamble as Admiralty Representative at the International Conference on Aerial Navigation held in Paris.

On 24 February he was appointed to H.M.S. Terpsichore for command of the Royal Naval War College, Portsmouth. On 15 March he was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral. On 2 July, 1912, he went afloat with the staff of the War College, flying his flag as Vice-Admiral Commanding the Seventh Battle Squadron during the annual manœuvres. He was superseded at the War College on 28 January, 1913, having been appointed Chief of the Admiralty War Staff on 6 January.

Onset of war

Apparently Jackson was opposed to the continuing escalation of the size of capital ships, telling Admiral Sir George F. King-Hall at the beginning of 1914 that, "He agreed with me that Battleships were getting too big and he had set his face against the 15" guns most determinedly." He was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 10 February, 1914, vice King-Hall. In July, 1914 it was announced that Jackson would succeed Admiral Sir Berkeley Milne as Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet on 10 December. However, when war broke out he was retained for special service at the Admiralty. He was president of the subcommittee of the Committee of Imperial Defence dealing with overseas attack and largely concerned with planning attacks on the German colonies. In October, 1914, the First Sea Lord Prince Louis of Battenberg had been forced to resign following the agitation over his German birth. At an audience on 27 October, King George V mentioned to Churchill Jackson's name as a replacement, but the First Lord replied that "while admitting", in the words of Lord Stamfordham, "his scientific and intellectual capacity [Churchill] did not think he would do." Halpern's explanation that "Jackson no doubt appeared too bland and mild" is inadequate. It is clear that at the time neither Churchill or Asquith would accept anyone other than Fisher as Battenberg's replacement.

First Sea Lord

Churchill had written to Asquith on 21 May, "I have tried my hand but without success to persuade Sir Arthur Wilson to hold himself at Mr. Balfour's disposition. In these circumstances I wd advise Sir Henry Jackson."

Later Years & Reputation

Jackson left the Admiralty to become President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich where he remained until July, 1919. On 2 April, 1917 he succeeded Sir George Callaghan as First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King. In 1919 he was created a G.C.B. On 31 July, 1919, he was promoted Admiral of the Fleet in place of Sir William May, placed on the Retired List. In 1920 he was appointed chairman of the Radio Research Board. On 31 July, 1924 Jackson was placed on the Retired List. He remained active with scientific societies such as the Institution of Electrical Engineers. He was also a vice-president of the Institution of Naval Architects and vice-president of the Seamen's Hospital Society. He was awarded honorary degrees: D.S.C.s from Oxford and Leeds and an L.L.D. from Cambridge. He was also awarded Spanish, Russian, Japanese, and French decorations. Jackson died on 14 December, 1929 at his home, Salterns, on Hayling Island, Hampshire, his wife surviving him. He was buried on 17 December in Hayling Island parish churchyard.

Bibliography

• "Admiral of the Fleet Sir H. B. Jackson" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 16 December, 1929. Issue 45387, col A, pg. 19.
• Murfett, Malcolm H. (1995). Murfett, Malcolm H.. ed. The First Sea Lords: From Fisher to Mountbatten. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0-275-94231-7.

Papers

• Papers in the possession of the National Maritime Museum.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/38.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/19.

Naval Offices
Preceded by George Le C. Egerton	Assistant Director of Torpedoes 1902 – 1903	Succeeded by The Hon. Alexander E. Bethell
Preceded by Sir William H. May	Third Sea Lord and Controller 1905 – 1908	Succeeded by Sir John R. Jellicoe
Preceded by Lewis Bayly	President of the Royal Naval War College 1911 – 1913	Succeeded by The Hon. Sir Alexander E. Bethell
Preceded by Ernest C. T. Troubridge	Chief of the Admiralty War Staff 1913 – 1914	Succeeded by Sir F. C. Doveton Sturdee
Preceded by The Lord Fisher	First Sea Lord 1915 – 1916	Succeeded by Sir John R. Jellicoe
Preceded by Position Vacant	President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich 1916 – 1919	Succeeded by Sir William C. Pakenham
Preceded by Sir George A. Callaghan	First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp 1917 – 1919	Succeeded by The Hon. Sir Stanley C. J. Colville