Henry Bradwardine 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
Telegraphy
Flag Rank
Jackson was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 18 October, 1906. 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 He was superseded at the War College on 28 January, 1913, having been appointed Chief of the Admiralty War Staff on 6 January.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."[1] He was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 10 February, 1914, vice King-Hall.[2] 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.[3] 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."[4] 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."[5]
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.[6] 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.[7] In 1920 he was appointed chairman of the Radio Research Board. On 31 July, 1924 Jackson was placed on the Retired List.[8] 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.
Footnotes
- ↑ King-Hall Diary entry for 13 January, 1914.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 28801. p. 1176. 13 February, 1914.
- ↑ "Second Sea Lord" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 23 July, 1914. Issue 40586, col G, pg. 10.
- ↑ Quoted in Gilbert. Winston S. Churchill. III. p. 150.
- ↑ Quoted in Gilbert. Winston S. Churchill. III. pp. 465-466.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 30008. p. 3206. 3 April, 1917.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 31489. p. 9961. 5 August, 1919.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 32962. p. 5889. 5 August, 1924.
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
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 |
- 1855 births
- 1929 deaths
- Personalities
- H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ships) Entrants of January, 1869
- Royal Navy Naval Attachés
- Chiefs of the Admiralty War Staff
- First Sea Lords
- Presidents of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich
- First and Principal Naval Aides-de-Camp to King George V
- Royal Navy Admirals of the Fleet
- Royal Navy Flag Officers
- Fellows of the Royal Society