Frederick George Denham Bedford

From The Dreadnought Project
Jump to: navigation, search
Admiral Frederick G. D. Bedford, as depicted in Vanity Fair, Dec 1903.
Portrait: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Admiral SIR Frederick George Denham Bedford, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., Royal Navy (28 December, 1838 – 30 January, 1913) was an officer of the Royal Navy. From 1903 to 1909 he served as Governor of the Australian state of Western Australia.

His son, Denham Maurice Turner Bedford would also rise to flag rank in the service.

Life & Career

In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 5 February, 1872, on 8 February of that year Bedford was promoted to the rank of Commander with seniority of 29 December, 1871.[1]

Following the Prince of Wales's voyage to India, Bedford was promoted to the rank of Captain on 15 May, 1876.[2]

On the occasion of Queen Victoria's birthday Bedford was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 29 May, 1886.[3]

On 1 May, 1888, he was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to the Queen, vice Molyneux.[4]

Bedford was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 20 May, 1891, vice Gordon.[5]

In recognition of his services in Benin he was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 21 December, 1894.[6]

Bedford was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 10 May, 1897, vice Fairfax.[7]

Bedford was appointed an Ordinary Member of the First Class, or Knight Grand Cross, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (G.C.B.) on 26 June, 1902.[8]

Bedford was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 3 October, 1902, vice Erskine.[9] In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 22 February, 1870, he was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 30 May, 1903.[10]

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Sir F. G. D. Bedford" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 1 February, 1913. Issue 40124, col C, p. 11.

Papers

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Edmund R. Fremantle
Captain of H.M.S. Dreadnought
10 Apr, 1885[11] – 7 Aug, 1886
Succeeded by
Henry F. Stephenson
Preceded by
Nathaniel Bowden-Smith
Captain of Training Ship H.M.S. Britannia
17 Sep, 1886[12] – 7 Sep, 1889[13]
Succeeded by
Noel S. F. Digby
Preceded by
Charles F. Hotham
Junior Naval Lord
17 Dec, 1889[14] – 9 Aug, 1892[15]
Succeeded by
Lord Walter Kerr
Preceded by
Henry F. Nicholson
Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope Station and West Africa Station
10 Aug, 1892[16] – 31 May, 1895[17]
Succeeded by
Sir Harry H. Rawson
Preceded by
The Rt. Hon. Lord Walter Kerr
Second Naval Lord
27 May, 1895[18] – 3 May, 1899[19]
Succeeded by
The Rt. Hon. Lord Walter Kerr
Preceded by
Sir John A. Fisher
Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station
1 May, 1899[20] – 26 Jul, 1902[21]
Succeeded by
Sir Archibald L. Douglas

Footnotes

  1. The London Gazette: no. 23826. p. 510. 9 February, 1872.
  2. The London Gazette: no. 24326. p. 2982. 16 May, 1876.
  3. The London Gazette: no. 25592. p. 2633. 29 May, 1886.
  4. The London Gazette: no. 25817. p. 2829. 18 May, 1888.
  5. The London Gazette: no. 26164. p. 2726. 22 May, 1891.
  6. The London Gazette: no. 26581. p. 7527. 21 December, 1894.
  7. The London Gazette: no. 26855. p. 2854. 21 May, 1897.
  8. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 27448. p. 4189. 26 June, 1902.
  9. The London Gazette: no. 27483. p. 6569. 17 October, 1902.
  10. The London Gazette: no. 27561. p. 3576. 5 June, 1903.
  11. The Navy List. (September, 1885). p. 206.
  12. Bedford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36. f. 86.
  13. Bedford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/14. f. 824
  14. Bedford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/14. f. 824
  15. Bedford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/14. f. 824
  16. Clowes. The Royal Navy. Vol. VII. p. 90.
  17. Bedford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/14. f. 824
  18. The Naval Staff of the Admiralty. p. 119.
  19. Bedford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/14. f. 824
  20. Clowes. The Royal Navy. Vol. VII. p. 87.
  21. Bedford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/14. f. 824