| Sir Richard Peirse | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1861 |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Navy |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | HMS Dido East Indies Station |
| Battles/wars | Second Boer War World War I |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Member of the Royal Victorian Order |
Vice Admiral Sir Richard Henry Peirse KCB MVO (born 1861)[1] was a senior Royal Navy officer during World War I.
Peirse joined the Royal Navy and, in 1885, developed a new naval director[2] which was to become the fire-control system used in all ships with large guns.[3] Promoted to Captain in 1900,[4] he commanded HMS Dido during the Second Boer War.[5]
Promoted to Rear Admiral in February 1909[6] he was appointed Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station in 1913.[7] Then promoted to Vice Admiral in October 1914,[6] he served in World War I taking part in the attack on Smyrna in 1915[8] where he outgunned the Turkish Fleet.[9] He continued in his role on the East Indies Station until December 1915.[10][11]
After the War he became Naval Member of the Central Committee of the Board of Invention and Research.[12]
He lived in Upper Norwood in London[13] and there is a memorial to him in Bedale Parish Church in North Yorkshire.[14]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Alexander Bethell |
Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station 1913–1915 |
Succeeded by Sir Rosslyn Wemyss |