Difference between revisions of "Frederick Tower Hamilton"
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In May, Fisher inquired of Jellicoe as to whether Hamilton would be a suitable successor to him as Second Sea Lord: | In May, Fisher inquired of Jellicoe as to whether Hamilton would be a suitable successor to him as Second Sea Lord: | ||
− | <blockquote>However, what I am really writing to you about is to ask you whether you are sure that Hamilton will <small>LOYALLY</small> and <small>WHOLEHEARTEDLY</small> carry out the Osborne scheme and all its tributaries, such as Keyham etc., because (''this is sacredly private'') the King and his pimps are starting another crusade to revert to the old lines, and Hamilton is a bosom friend of the King, who calls him by his Christian name and who lends him a cottage at Sandringham, and his wife is Colin Keppel's sister! Will he be able to resist the courtly influences? If you would sooner not answer, then don't write. He is a better man as an administrator than Warrender. Don't you think so?<ref>''Fear God and Dread Nought''. '''II'''. pp. 505-506.</ref></blockquote> | + | <blockquote>However, what I am really writing to you about is to ask you whether you are sure that Hamilton will <small>LOYALLY</small> and <small>WHOLEHEARTEDLY</small> carry out the Osborne scheme and all its tributaries, such as Keyham etc., because (''this is sacredly private'') the King and his pimps are starting another crusade to revert to the old lines, and Hamilton is a bosom friend of the King, who calls him by his Christian name and who lends him a cottage at Sandringham, and his wife is [[Colin Richard Keppel|Colin Keppel]]'s sister! Will he be able to resist the courtly influences? If you would sooner not answer, then don't write. He is a better man as an administrator than Warrender. Don't you think so?<ref>''Fear God and Dread Nought''. '''II'''. pp. 505-506.</ref></blockquote> |
==Great War== | ==Great War== |
Revision as of 16:46, 4 March 2014
Admiral SIR Frederick Tower Hamilton, G.C.V.O., K.C.B., Royal Navy (8 March, 1856 – 4 October, 1917) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.
Life & Career
Hamilton was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 6 November, 1879.[1] The Controller of the Navy, Vice-Admiral Sir William Houston Stewart, wrote to him that "I am glad to see that the Admiralty have recognised your good services by the promotion you so well merit."[2]
In 1881 Hamilton was one of five officers selected to qualify in torpedo duties (another was Lieutenant Henry B. Jackson).[3]
Hamilton was appointed in command of the torpedo school ship Defiance at Devonport on 1 November, 1897.[4] He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1 January, 1898,[5] and was re-appointed in command of Defiance.[6]
In March 1901, he assumed command of the second class protected cruiser Furious, remaining in the ship for one year.[7]
On 18 March, 1902 he was appointed to the battleship Bulwark as Flag Captain to Admiral Sir Compton E. Domvile, new Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean.[8]
On the occasion of the King's visit to Malta Hamilton was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) on 21 April, 1903.[9]
Hamilton was appointed Captain of H.M.S. Excellent on 24 February, 1905, with the rank of Commodore, Second Class from 29 June, 1906.[10] He was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King dated 18 September, vice Denison.[11]
Hamilton's appointment as Inspector of Target Practice in succession to Rear-Admiral Sir Percy M. Scott was announced in May, 1907.[12] He was appointed, as Commodore, Second Class, on 15 July.[13]
Flag Rank
Hamilton was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 1 October, 1907.[14]
Hamilton succeeded Vice-Admiral Scott in command of the Fifth Cruiser Squadron on 16 February, 1909,[15] passing command to Cecil Burney exactly two years later.
On 5 December, 1911, Hamilton was appointed in command of the Third and Fourth Divisions of the Home Fleet, which in 1912 became the Second and Third Fleets of the Home Fleets.[16] He was confirmed in the rank of Vice-Admiral on 31 July, 1912.[17]
Hamilton was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 1 January, 1913.[18] He was succeeded by Vice-Admiral Sir Cecil Burney at Sheerness on 5 December.[19]
In May, Fisher inquired of Jellicoe as to whether Hamilton would be a suitable successor to him as Second Sea Lord:
However, what I am really writing to you about is to ask you whether you are sure that Hamilton will LOYALLY and WHOLEHEARTEDLY carry out the Osborne scheme and all its tributaries, such as Keyham etc., because (this is sacredly private) the King and his pimps are starting another crusade to revert to the old lines, and Hamilton is a bosom friend of the King, who calls him by his Christian name and who lends him a cottage at Sandringham, and his wife is Colin Keppel's sister! Will he be able to resist the courtly influences? If you would sooner not answer, then don't write. He is a better man as an administrator than Warrender. Don't you think so?[20]
Great War
In his diary on 7 June 1916, Hamilton wrote:
- On Saturday [3 June] I visited Rosyth … I found Beatty very well and cheerful but very angry with the Admiralty for their very stupid communiqué sent out on Friday evening which was really an apology for winning a victory. I subsequently on my return found that Masterton-Smith was the author of it, Jackson and Oliver having been too busy to attend to it properly and having told them to say anything they liked, as long as it was true.[21]
Hamilton was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 9 June, 1916.[22] On 1 July he assumed the appointment of Commander-in-Chief on the Coast of Scotland.[23]
He died at Rosyth on 4 October, 1917, from heart failure, aged sixty-one.[24]
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 24787. p. 6940. 28 November, 1879.
- ↑ Houston Stewart to Hamilton. Letter of 29 November, 1879. Hamilton Papers. National Maritime Museum. HTN/118/A.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 14 March, 1881. Issue 30141, col B, p. 6.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 19 October, 1897. Issue 35338, col D, p. 8.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26924. p. 7854. 31 December, 1897.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 8 January, 1898. Issue 35408, col C, p. 10.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 5 March, 1902. Issue 36707, col E, p. 5.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27560. p. 3525. 2 June, 1903.
- ↑ ADM 196/38. f. 581.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27952. p. 6492. 25 September, 1906.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 30 May, 1907. Issue 38346, col F, p. 5.
- ↑ ADM 196/38. f. 581.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28066. p. 6667. 4 October, 1907.
- ↑ Hazell's Annual, 1910. p. 199.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 14 October, 1913. Issue 40342, col F, p. 6.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28632. p. 5723. 2 August, 1912.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 28677. p. 1. 1 January, 1913.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 5 December, 1913. Issue 40387, col A, p. 6.
- ↑ Fear God and Dread Nought. II. pp. 505-506.
- ↑ Diary entry of 7 June, 1916. National Maritime Museum. Hamilton Papers. HTN/106.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29621. p. 5828. 13 June, 1916.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List (September, 1917). p. 4.
- ↑ The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 581.
Bibliography
- "Death of Admiral Sir F. T. Hamilton" (Obituaries). The Times. Friday, 5 October, 1917. Issue 41601, col D, p. 11.
Papers
- Papers in the possession of the National Maritime Museum. For a comprehensive list, see Hamilton Papers at the National Maritime Museum.
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/87.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/38.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/19.
Naval Appointments | ||
Preceded by Percy M. Scott |
Captain of H.M.S. Excellent 1905 – 1907 |
Succeeded by Reginald G. O. Tupper
|
Preceded by Sir Percy M. Scott |
Inspector of Target Practice 1907 – 1909 |
Succeeded by Richard H. Peirse
|
Preceded by Sir Percy M. Scott |
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Second Cruiser Squadron 1909 |
Succeeded by Robert S. Lowry
|
Preceded by Robert S. Lowry |
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Fifth Cruiser Squadron 1909 – 1911 |
Succeeded by Cecil Burney
|
Preceded by H.S.H. Prince Louis of Battenberg |
Vice-Admiral Commanding, Third and Fourth Divisions, Home Fleets 1911 – 1912 |
Succeeded by Sir Cecil Burney |
Vice-Admiral Commanding, Second and Third Fleets 1912 – 1913 | ||
Preceded by Sir John R. Jellicoe |
Second Sea Lord 1914 – 1916 |
Succeeded by The Hon. Sir Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe
|
Preceded by Sir Robert S. Lowry |
Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth 1916 – 1917 |
Succeeded by Sir Cecil Burney
|