Frank Edward Cavendish Ryan

Admiral Frank Edward Cavendish Ryan, C.B.E., Royal Navy, Retired (6 August, 1865 – 15 February, 1945) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Frank Edward Cavendish Ryan was born in India on 6 August, 1865, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel W. C. B. Ryan, of the Indian Army. He was educated at Bromsgrove School.

Ryan was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1888.

He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1900.

Captain

Ryan was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1 January, 1905. On 30 January he was appointed to President for the War Course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. He given a Second Class pass. From 15 May to 8 August he was appointed to President for study at the Army's Staff College.

From 8 August to 31 August Ryan was appointed to the Naval Intelligence Department, and from 1 September, 1905, to 12 September, 1907, he served as Naval Attaché at Washington, D.C., in the United States of America.

He was appointed in command of Astræa in the China Squadron on 1 January, 1908.

He was appointed in command of the battleship Mars, of the Third Division of the Home Fleet, on 31 May, 1910. Mars paid off on 1 January, 1912.

He was next appointed in command of the battleship Cornwallis on 5 April, 1912, initially in the Mediterranean and then the Fourth Battle Squadron. Presumably whilst in the Mediterranean he came to the notice of the battleship commander, Vice-Admiral Sir Cecil Burney, for on 10 January, 1914, Ryan was appointed to H.M.S. Queen as Chief of Staff to Burney, now commanding the Second and Third Fleets of the Home Fleets.

Great War

Ryan was temporarily appointed by Burney as Captain of Venerable from 17 to 20 August.

Ryan was appointed to Research as Commodore-in-Charge at Portland on 5 February, 1915, in succession to Commodore Joseph R. Bridson.

He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 9 June, 1916, and, in accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December, 1903, was placed on the Retired List, at his own request, on 10 June. He had been refused the appointment of Rear-Admiral in Charge at Portland on the grounds that "Captains are available."

Post-War & Retirement

In recognition of his services during the war, on the occasion of the King's birthday Ryan was appointed a Commander of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.) on 3 June, 1919.

He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 31 July, 1920, to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 8 May, 1925.

Bibliography

• "Admiral F. E. C. Ryan" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 17 February, 1945. Issue 50070, col G, p. 6.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/88.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/42.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by William H. Nicholson	Captain of H.M. T.B. 44 10 Jan, 1893 – 19 May, 1893	Succeeded by Alfred E. Walkem
Preceded by Guy A. J. Greville	Captain of H.M. T.B. 21 before 18 Apr, 1893	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Dudley R. S. De Chair	Royal Navy Naval Attaché at Washington, D.C. 1 Sep, 1905 – 12 Sep, 1907	Succeeded by The Hon. Horace L. A. Hood
Preceded by Charles L. Vaughan-Lee	Captain of H.M.S. Astræa 1 Jan, 1908 – 7 Feb, 1910	Succeeded by Edward B. Kiddle
Preceded by Thomas L. Barnardiston	Captain of H.M.S. Mars 31 May, 1910 – 1 Jan, 1912	Succeeded by Arthur B. F. Dawson
Preceded by Robert H. Anstruther	Captain of H.M.S. Cornwallis 5 Apr, 1912 – 10 Jan, 1914	Succeeded by Cunningham R. de C. Foot
Preceded by Charles H. Morgan	Captain of H.M.S. Venerable 17 Aug, 1914 – 20 Aug, 1914	Succeeded by Vivian H. G. Bernard
Preceded by Joseph R. Bridson	Commodore-in-Charge, Portland 5 Feb, 1915 – 28 Sep, 1916	Succeeded by Richard M. Harbord