Benjamin Bathurst

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about a living person. For the historical namesake who disappeared in 1809, see Benjamin Bathurst (disappearance).

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Benjamin Bathurst GCB ADC RN (born 1936) is a British naval officer who served as Chief of the Naval Staff and First Sea Lord during the early 1990s.

Bathurst joined the Royal Navy in 1953 serving with the Fleet Air Arm as a helicopter pilot. He soon qualified as an instructor, followed by Senior Pilot and went on to take command of his squadron.

Promoted Captain in 1974, Bathurst took command of a Leander class frigate, HMS Ariadne. Two years later he became Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord at the Ministry of Defence. In 1978 he took command of HMS Minerva and was Captain 5th Frigate Squadron until 1980. The following year, Bathurst attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London and was appointed Director of Naval Air Warfare in the Ministry of Defence.

Bathurst was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1983, serving as Flag Officer Second Flotilla until taking up the appointment of Director General Naval Manpower and Training. He was made Vice Admiral in 1986 and then Admiral in 1989. He served as Commander in Chief of the Fleet which also carried NATO appointments.

He became Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in 1991 and two years later became Chief of the Naval Staff and First Sea Lord. Bathurst was promoted Admiral of the Fleet on his retirement in 1995. He was appointed to the office of Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Somerset in 1996 and became Vice Lord Lieutenant in 1999.

Bathurst is the cousin of the present 8th Earl Bathurst and in distant remainder to the titles.