Charles Henry Adair
Admiral Charles Henry Adair, Royal Navy (2 July, 1851 – 9 March, 1920) was an officer of the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Charley Henry Adair came of a family which had many associations with the Naval Service. His father was General Sir Charles Adair, K.C.B., who was Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General of the Royal Marines from 1878 to 1883, and who died in 1897. His elder brother, General Sir William Adair, K.C.B. also occupied this position from 1907 to 1911. Charles was the second son, bom on 2 July, 1851. He entered the Royal Navy in September, 1864, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 June, 1874.[1] In 1876 he elected to specialize in gunnery. His first appointment as gunnery lieutenant was in the Bacchante in 1872, and he served in her throughout her cruise with Prince George (later King George V) and Prince Albert Victor (later the Duke of Clarence). After requalifying in the Excellent, he became gunnery lieutenant in tho Alexandria, flagship of Lord John Hay in the Mediterranean, in which ship he served two years. He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 January, 1886.[2] He served also in the Helicon during the operations in the Eastern Sudan, and was present at Suakin. As a commander, he served in the Raleigh, flagship at the Cape, and commanded the Alacrity in China. He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1893.[3] From March, 1896, to September, 1899, he was Flag Captain in the Imperieuse to Rear-Admiral Palliser on the Pacific Station, and after commanding the battleship Royal Sovereign in the Mediterranean he was Captain of Sheerness Gunnery School from 1902 to 1905. On 1 April, 1905, he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral.[4]
His flag was hoisted in the Resolution on 3 January, 1903, as Rear-Admiral Commanding the Reserve Division at the Nore, and after a year in this command he was chosen to succeed Prince Louis of Battenberg in command of the Second Cruiser Squadron. He was Rear-Admiral Commanding this force from February, 1907, to September, 1908, in which month he was transferred, with his flagship, the Drake, to the First Cruiser Squadron in order that Rear-Admiral Sir Percy Scott, formerly in command of that force, might proceed in his flagship, the Good Hope, on a special cruise to South Africa with the Second Cruiser Squadron.
Admiral Adair hauled down his flag on 24 February, 1909, and did not again serve on the Active List. He had been promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 9 February, vice Finnis,[5] and was advanced to the rank of Admiral on 10 May, 1913, vice Durnford.[6] In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December, 1903, he was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 15 May, 1913.[7]
Admiral Adair married in 1893, Annette, the daughter of Mr. W. H. Wilson, of Nortonsea, Waterloo, Lancashire, and had two sons and one daughter.
Footnotes
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 24106. p. 3097. 19 June, 1874.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 25545. p. 7. 1 January, 1886.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 26422. p. 3980. 14 July, 1893.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 27781. p. 2544. 4 April, 1905.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 28223. p. 1111. 12 February, 1909.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 28718. p. 3438. 13 May, 1913.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 28719. p. 3514. 16 May, 1913.
Bibliography
- "Admiral C. H. Adair" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 11 March, 1920. Issue 42356, col E, pg. 16.
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/86.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/38.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/18.
