Port Admiral (Royal Navy)

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Port Admiral was a positional rank, now apparently defunct, in the British Royal Navy.

A Port Admiral was not an actual Admiral, but typically a veteran Captain who served as the shore commander of a British Naval Port and was in charge of supplying, refitting, and maintaining the ships docked at harbour. As the Port Admiral technically had control of a fleet of ships, albeit mostly in drydock and layup, the position was granted the status of a Navy Admiral.

[edit] Port Admirals, Portsmouth

The most powerful Port Admiral of the 18th and 19th century British Navy was the Port Admiral of Portsmouth, considered the leading harbour of the Royal Navy.

Name From To Flagship
Rear Admiral Sir F L Maitland 1832 Victory
Rear Admiral Duncombe Pleydell-Bouverie 1837 Victory
Rear Admiral Hyde Parker 1842 Victory
Rear Admiral W H Shiffeff 1847 Victory
Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, 2nd Baronet March 20, 1848 December 19, 1848 Victory
Admiral Sir Thomas Bladen Capel December 20, 1848 December 19, 1851 Victory
Admiral Sir Thomas Briggs December 20, 1851 March 19, 1853 Victory
Vice Admiral Sir Thomas John Cochrane March 20, 1854 March 19, 1856 Victory
Vice Admiral Sir George Frederick Seymour March 20, 1856 March 19, 1859 Victory
Admiral William Bowles March 20, 1859 March 19, 1860 Victory
Vice Admiral Henry Bruce March 20, 1860 December 19, 1864 Victory
Vice Admiral Sir Michael Seymour December 20, 1864 March 19, 1866 Victory
Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley March 20, 1866 March 20, 1869 Victory
? December 20, 1869 September 1, 1891 Duke of Wellington[1]
Admiral The Earl of Clanwilliam August 1, 1891 September 17, 1894 Victory
Admiral Sir Nowell Salmon VC September 18, 1894 August 31, 1897 Victory
Admiral Sir Michael Culme-Seymour September 1, 1897 November 17, 1900 Victory
Admiral Sir Charles F Hotham November 18, 1900 September 30, 1903 Victory
Admiral Sir John Fisher October 1, 1903 March 18, 1904 Victory
? March 19, 1904 January 31, 1905 Hercules[2]
? February 1, 1905 ? Firequeen
Rear-Admiral Stanley McArdle[1] 1973 1975 ?

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ With Victory as its tender
  2. ^ Victory now became flagship to the Second Sea Lord.