Francis George Kirby

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Admiral Francis George Kirby, Royal Navy, Retired (18 August, 1854 – 13 January, 1951) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Kirby was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 January, 1888.[1]

Kirby was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1894.[2]

He was appointed in command of the second class protected cruiser Phaeton on 8 June, 1897.[3]

Phaeton collided with the destroyer Thrasher on a foggy night on 19 August, 1897 as both were en route to Vigo from Plymouth and a change of course signal flashed from Phaeton to the destroyer was wrongly copied. A subsequent Court Martial brought charges of having hazarded the ship upon Kirby and the officer of the watch, Lieutenant Charles Donald Graham. Both were found partly at fault, and were admonished to be more careful in future.[4]

Command of a capital ship followed, with appointment to Ramillies in October 1902.

Kirby was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 1 August, 1905, vice Metaxa.[5] In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December, 1903, he was placed on the Retired List on 15 January, 1908, at his own request.[6]

He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 30 April, 1910,[7] and to Admiral on the Retired List on 3 June, 1913.[8]

On 20 March, 1915, Kirby was granted a temporary Commission as Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve.[9]

Bibliography

  • "Admiral F. G. Kirby" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 15 January, 1951. Issue 51899, col D, p. 6.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Richard Bingham
Captain of H.M.S. Swift
8 Feb, 1892[10]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Arthur C. B. Bromley
Captain of H.M.S. Brilliant
8 Jul, 1896[11]
Succeeded by
Francis J. Foley
Preceded by
Charles J. Norcock
Captain of H.M.S. Phaeton
8 Jun, 1897[12][13] – 15 Oct, 1900
Succeeded by
Ernest J. Fleet
Preceded by
Frederick S. Inglefield
Captain of H.M.S. Devastation
15 Oct, 1900[14]
Succeeded by
Guy L. Sclater
Preceded by
The Hon. Walter G. Stopford
Captain of H.M.S. Ramillies
16 Oct, 1902[15] – 7 Oct, 1903[16]
Succeeded by
William H. Baker-Baker
Preceded by
The Hon. Walter G. Stopford
Captain of H.M.S. Leviathan
11 Jan, 1904[17][18] – 24 Jan, 1905[19]
Succeeded by
Christopher G. F. M. Cradock
Preceded by
Christopher G. F. M. Cradock
Captain of H.M.S. Bacchante
25 Jan, 1905[20] – 22 Feb, 1905[21]
Succeeded by
Henry V. W. Elliott
 

Footnotes

  1. The London Gazette: no. 25772. p. 15. 3 January, 1888.
  2. The London Gazette: no. 26534. p. 4154. 20 July, 1894.
  3. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, 12 May, 1897. Issue 35201, col E, p. 13.
  4. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Monday, Aug 30, 1897; pg. 8; Issue 35295.
  5. The London Gazette: no. 27824. p. 5376. 4 August, 1905.
  6. The London Gazette: no. 28100. p. 421. 17 January, 1908.
  7. The London Gazette: no. 28362. p. 3063. 3 May, 1910.
  8. The London Gazette: no. 28725. p. 3914. 3 June, 1913.
  9. The London Gazette: no. 29109. p. 2346. 23 March, 1915.
  10. The Navy List. (March, 1892). p. 256.
  11. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Thursday, Jul 09, 1896; pg. 11; Issue 34938.
  12. "The Naval Review at Spithead". The Times. Wednesday, 9 June, 1897. Issue 35225, col D, p. 10.
  13. Kirby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 86/170.
  14. The Navy List. (January, 1901). p. 245.
  15. Kirby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 86/170.
  16. Kirby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 86/170.
  17. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 2 January, 1904. Issue 37280, col E, p. 5.
  18. Kirby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 86/170.
  19. Kirby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 86/170.
  20. Kirby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 86/170.
  21. Kirby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 86/170.