Frederic William Fisher

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Admiral Sir Frederic W. Fisher, seen as a Rear-Admiral.

Admiral SIR Frederic William Fisher, K.C.V.O., Royal Navy (5 October, 1851 – 23 December, 1943) was an officer of the Royal Navy. He was the younger brother of the famous Lord Fisher. Until 1909 he was known as Frederick William Fisher.

Life & Career

Frederick William Fisher (his Christian name was changed to Frederic in 1909)[1] was born on 5 October, 1851, in Nuware Eliya, Ceylon, on the "Wavedon" estate owned by his father, Captain William Fisher, late of the 78th Highlanders.[2]

Fisher was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 1 February, 1875.[3]

Fisher was appointed to the armoured cruiser Northumberland on 30 October, 1879.[4]

Fisher was promoted to the rank of Commander on 21 June, 1887.[5]

He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1893.[6]

Fisher assumed command of the first class protected cruiser Grafton in October 1898.

He was appointed in command of the second class battleship Collingwood on 28 October, 1899.[7] On 27 February, 1900, he was appointed in command of the battleship Illustrious,[8] but this appears to have been cancelled, as Frank Finnis is clearly indicated as in command through that period.

He was appointed in command of the battleship Revenge on 18 April, 1901.[9]

He served as captain of Canopus from some time in 1904 until the following January.

Flag Rank

Fisher depicted as a Vice-Admiral in Vanity Fair, Jan 1912.
Portrait: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Fisher was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 8 June, 1905, vice Meggs Davis.[10]

On the occasion of the King's visit to Malta Fisher was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) on 15 April, 1907.[11]

On the occasion of another visit of the King to Malta Fisher was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (K.C.V.O.) on 24 April, 1909.[12] He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral dated 26 October.[13]

Sir Francis Bridgeman wrote to Reginald McKenna in late 1910, "There is one man whom I should like to mention in connection with a Command & that is Lord Fisher's brother the Admiral, whom I have a great regard for & who has suffered considerably from having an elder brother who so completely eclipsed him!"[14]

Fisher succeeded Admiral Sir John Durnford as President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich on 23 March, 1911.[15]

On 15 May, 1913, he was promoted to the rank of Admiral, vice Adair.[16]

He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 24 October, 1914.[17]

Fisher died at Kilverstone Hall, Thetford on 23 December, 1943 aged ninety-two. His funeral took place on Sunday, 26 December.[18]

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Sir Frederic Fisher" (Obituaries). The Times. Tuesday, 28 December, 1943. Issue 49738, col E, p. 7.
  • Fisher, Admiral Sir Frederic William (1938). Naval Reminiscences of Admiral Sir Frederic William Fisher, K.C.V.O.. London: Frederick Muller Ltd.
  • Lowis, Commander Geoffrey Lyttelton, Royal Navy (1959). Fabulous Admirals and Some Naval Fragments. London: Putnam.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Crawford J. M. Conybeare
Captain of Training Ship H.M.S. St. Vincent
22 Oct, 1891[19]
Succeeded by
Edward P. Jones
Preceded by
Robert W. Craigie
Captain of H.M.S. Crescent
2 Aug, 1894[20] – 31 Dec, 1894[21]
Succeeded by
Charles R. Arbuthnot
Preceded by
Cyprian A. G. Bridge
Captain of H.M.S. Orlando
1 Jan, 1895[22] – 12 May, 1898[23]
Succeeded by
James H. T. Burke
Preceded by
Francis C. B. Bridgeman
Captain of H.M.S. Blenheim
15 Jun, 1898[24] – 30 Sep, 1898[25]
Succeeded by
Reginald N. Custance
Preceded by
Arthur W. Ewart
Captain of H.M.S. Grafton
1 Oct, 1898[26] – 4 Oct, 1899[27]
Succeeded by
Colin R. Keppel
Preceded by
Henry C. Bigge
Captain of H.M.S. Collingwood
28 Oct, 1899[28] – 1 May, 1900[29]
Succeeded by
Leslie C. Stuart
Preceded by
Count Frederick C. Metaxa
Captain of H.M.S. Alexandra
16 Apr, 1900[30]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
George F. King-Hall
Captain of H.M.S. Revenge
18 Apr, 1901[31] – 20 May, 1903[32]
Succeeded by
Edward E. Bradford
Preceded by
Daniel McN. Riddel
Commodore-in-Charge, Jamaica
10 Jul, 1903[33] – 20 Apr, 1905
Succeeded by
Alexander K. Jones
as Senior Naval Officer, Jamaica
Preceded by
Edward S. Fitzherbert
Captain of H.M.S. Canopus
9 May, 1905[34] – 10 Sep, 1905[35]
Succeeded by
Douglas A. Gamble
Preceded by
Arthur C. B. Bromley
Admiral Superintendent, Malta Dockyard
16 Jan, 1907[36] – 25 Feb, 1910[37]
Succeeded by
Ernest A. Simons
Preceded by
Sir John Durnford
President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich
23 Mar, 1911[38] – 23 Oct, 1914[39]
Succeeded by
The Hon. Sir Alexander E. Bethell

Footnotes

  1. ADM 196/18. f. 547.
  2. Fisher. My Naval Reminiscences. p. 15.
  3. The London Gazette: no. 24176. p. 399. 2 February, 1875.
  4. The Navy List. (March, 1880). p. 227.
  5. The London Gazette: no. 25712. p. 3365. 21 June, 1887.
  6. The London Gazette: no. 26422. p. 3980. 14 July, 1893.
  7. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 30 October, 1899. Issue 35973, col D, p. 7.
  8. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 8 February, 1900. Issue 36060, col F, p. 10.
  9. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. f. 547.
  10. The London Gazette: no. 27804. p. 4188. 13 June, 1905.
  11. The London Gazette: no. 28015. p. 2731. 23 April, 1907.
  12. The London Gazette: no. 28246. p. 3277. 30 April, 1909.
  13. The London Gazette: no. 28306. p. 8246. 9 November, 1909.
  14. Bridgeman to McKenna, 10 November 1910, MCKN 3/5, f. 14, McKenna MSS, Churchill Archive Centre, Churchill College.
  15. "Naval Appointments" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 13 March, 1911. Issue 39531, col E, p. 4.
  16. The London Gazette: no. 28719. p. 3514. 16 May, 1913.
  17. The London Gazette: no. 28969. p. 9131. 10 November, 1914.
  18. "Deaths" (Deaths). The Times. Tuesday, 28 December, 1943. Issue 49738, col B, p. 1.
  19. The Navy List. (March, 1892). p. 251.
  20. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. f. 281.
  21. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. f. 281.
  22. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. f. 281.
  23. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. f. 281.
  24. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. f. 281.
  25. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. f. 281.
  26. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. f. 547.
  27. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. f. 547.
  28. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 30 October, 1899. Issue 35973, col D, p. 7.
  29. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. f. 547.
  30. The Navy List. (January, 1901). p. 222.
  31. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. p. 547.
  32. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. p. 547.
  33. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. p. 547.
  34. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 458.
  35. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. p. 547.
  36. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 18 December, 1906. Issue 38206, col A, p. 11.
  37. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. p. 547.
  38. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 458.
  39. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. p. 547.