Francis George Kirby
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.<ref>The London Gazette: no. 25772. p. 15. 3 January, 1888.</ref>
Kirby was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1894.<ref>The London Gazette: no. 26534. p. 4154. 20 July, 1894.</ref>
He was appointed in command of the {{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:|eq|p1|p2}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:{{#pos:t|c}}|Leander Class second class protected cruiser |p1|p2}}||}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#switch:{{safesubst:#if:{{#pos:t|c}}|p1|p2}}|p1=p1|p2={{safesubst:#ifeq:|error|{{safesubst:#ifeq:||p2|p3}}|p2}}|if/errmsg}}|Leander Class second class protected cruiser ||{{#pos:t|c}}|}}}}{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:|eq|p1|p2}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:{{#pos:t|t}}|second class protected cruiser |p1|p2}}||}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#switch:{{safesubst:#if:{{#pos:t|t}}|p1|p2}}|p1=p1|p2={{safesubst:#ifeq:|error|{{safesubst:#ifeq:||p2|p3}}|p2}}|if/errmsg}}|second class protected cruiser ||{{#pos:t|t}}|}}}}[[{{#if:H.M.S.|H.M.S. Phaeton (1883)|Phaeton (1883)}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:|eq|p1|p2}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:{{#pos:t|p}}|H.M.S. |p1|p2}}||}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#switch:{{safesubst:#if:{{#pos:t|p}}|p1|p2}}|p1=p1|p2={{safesubst:#ifeq:|error|{{safesubst:#ifeq:||p2|p3}}|p2}}|if/errmsg}}|H.M.S. ||{{#pos:t|p}}|}}}}Phaeton]] on 8 June, 1897.<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, 12 May, 1897. Issue 35201, col E, p. 13.</ref>
Phaeton collided with the {{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:|eq|p1|p2}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:{{#pos:t|c}}|"B" Class destroyer |p1|p2}}||}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#switch:{{safesubst:#if:{{#pos:t|c}}|p1|p2}}|p1=p1|p2={{safesubst:#ifeq:|error|{{safesubst:#ifeq:||p2|p3}}|p2}}|if/errmsg}}|"B" Class destroyer ||{{#pos:t|c}}|}}}}{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:|eq|p1|p2}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:{{#pos:t|t}}|destroyer |p1|p2}}||}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#switch:{{safesubst:#if:{{#pos:t|t}}|p1|p2}}|p1=p1|p2={{safesubst:#ifeq:|error|{{safesubst:#ifeq:||p2|p3}}|p2}}|if/errmsg}}|destroyer ||{{#pos:t|t}}|}}}}[[{{#if:H.M.S.|H.M.S. Thrasher (1895)|Thrasher (1895)}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:|eq|p1|p2}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:{{#pos:t|p}}|H.M.S. |p1|p2}}||}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#switch:{{safesubst:#if:{{#pos:t|p}}|p1|p2}}|p1=p1|p2={{safesubst:#ifeq:|error|{{safesubst:#ifeq:||p2|p3}}|p2}}|if/errmsg}}|H.M.S. ||{{#pos:t|p}}|}}}}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.<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Monday, Aug 30, 1897; pg. 8; Issue 35295.</ref>
Command of a capital ship followed, with appointment to {{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:|eq|p1|p2}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:{{#pos:|c}}|Royal Sovereign Class battleship |p1|p2}}||}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#switch:{{safesubst:#if:{{#pos:|c}}|p1|p2}}|p1=p1|p2={{safesubst:#ifeq:|error|{{safesubst:#ifeq:||p2|p3}}|p2}}|if/errmsg}}|Royal Sovereign Class battleship ||{{#pos:|c}}|}}}}{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:|eq|p1|p2}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:{{#pos:|t}}|battleship |p1|p2}}||}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#switch:{{safesubst:#if:{{#pos:|t}}|p1|p2}}|p1=p1|p2={{safesubst:#ifeq:|error|{{safesubst:#ifeq:||p2|p3}}|p2}}|if/errmsg}}|battleship ||{{#pos:|t}}|}}}}[[{{#if:H.M.S.|H.M.S. Ramillies (1892)|Ramillies (1892)}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:|eq|p1|p2}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:{{#pos:|p}}|H.M.S. |p1|p2}}||}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#switch:{{safesubst:#if:{{#pos:|p}}|p1|p2}}|p1=p1|p2={{safesubst:#ifeq:|error|{{safesubst:#ifeq:||p2|p3}}|p2}}|if/errmsg}}|H.M.S. ||{{#pos:|p}}|}}}}Ramillies]] in October 1902.
Kirby was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 1 August, 1905, vice Metaxa.<ref>The London Gazette: no. 27824. p. 5376. 4 August, 1905.</ref> 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.<ref>The London Gazette: no. 28100. p. 421. 17 January, 1908.</ref>
He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 30 April, 1910,<ref>The London Gazette: no. 28362. p. 3063. 3 May, 1910.</ref> and to Admiral on the Retired List on 3 June, 1913.<ref>The London Gazette: no. 28725. p. 3914. 3 June, 1913.</ref>
On 20 March, 1915, Kirby was granted a temporary Commission as Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve.<ref>The London Gazette: no. 29109. p. 2346. 23 March, 1915.</ref>
Bibliography
- "Admiral F. G. Kirby" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 15 January, 1951. Issue 51899, col D, p. 6.
Service Records
- The National Archives. {{#if:D8115217|ADM 196/86.|196/86.| |+}} ADM 196/86.}}
- The National Archives. {{#if:D7578901|ADM 196/38.|196/38.| |+}} ADM 196/38.}}
- The National Archives. {{#if:D7589992|ADM 196/19.|196/19.| |+}} ADM 196/19.}}
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Richard Bingham |
Captain of H.M.S. Swift 8 Feb, 1892{{#if:p. 256|<ref>The Navy List. (March, 1892). p. 256.</ref>|Admiralty. The Navy List. (March, 1892). Corrected to 20 February, 1892.}} |
Succeeded by ? |
| Preceded by Arthur C. B. Bromley |
Captain of H.M.S. Brilliant 8 Jul, 1896<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Thursday, Jul 09, 1896; pg. 11; Issue 34938.</ref> |
Succeeded by Francis J. Foley |
| Preceded by Charles J. Norcock |
Captain of H.M.S. Phaeton 8 Jun, 1897<ref>"The Naval Review at Spithead". The Times. Wednesday, 9 June, 1897. Issue 35225, col D, p. 10.</ref><ref>Kirby Service Record. The National Archives. {{#if:|ADM 196/19.|196/19.| |+}} ADM 196/19.}} f. 86/170.</ref> – 15 Oct, 1900 |
Succeeded by Ernest J. Fleet |
| Preceded by Frederick S. Inglefield |
Captain of H.M.S. Devastation 15 Oct, 1900{{#if:p. 245|<ref>The Navy List. (January, 1901). p. 245.</ref>|Admiralty. The Navy List. (January, 1901). Corrected to 18 December, 1900.}} |
Succeeded by Guy L. Sclater |
| Preceded by The Hon. Walter G. Stopford |
Captain of H.M.S. Ramillies 16 Oct, 1902<ref>Kirby Service Record. The National Archives. {{#if:|ADM 196/19.|196/19.| |+}} ADM 196/19.}} f. 86/170.</ref> – 7 Oct, 1903<ref>Kirby Service Record. The National Archives. {{#if:|ADM 196/19.|196/19.| |+}} ADM 196/19.}} f. 86/170.</ref> |
Succeeded by William H. Baker-Baker |
| Preceded by The Hon. Walter G. Stopford |
Captain of H.M.S. Leviathan 11 Jan, 1904<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 2 January, 1904. Issue 37280, col E, p. 5.</ref><ref>Kirby Service Record. The National Archives. {{#if:|ADM 196/19.|196/19.| |+}} ADM 196/19.}} f. 86/170.</ref> – 24 Jan, 1905<ref>Kirby Service Record. The National Archives. {{#if:|ADM 196/19.|196/19.| |+}} ADM 196/19.}} f. 86/170.</ref> |
Succeeded by Christopher G. F. M. Cradock |
| Preceded by Christopher G. F. M. Cradock |
Captain of H.M.S. Bacchante 25 Jan, 1905<ref>Kirby Service Record. The National Archives. {{#if:|ADM 196/19.|196/19.| |+}} ADM 196/19.}} f. 86/170.</ref> – 22 Feb, 1905<ref>Kirby Service Record. The National Archives. {{#if:|ADM 196/19.|196/19.| |+}} ADM 196/19.}} f. 86/170.</ref> |
Succeeded by Henry V. W. Elliott |
Footnotes
<references/> {{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:|eq|p1|p2}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:1854||p1|p2}}||}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#switch:{{safesubst:#if:1854|p1|p2}}|p1=p1|p2={{safesubst:#ifeq:|error|{{safesubst:#ifeq:+|-|p2|p3}}|p2}}|if/errmsg}}|||1854|}}}} {{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:|eq|p1|p2}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:1951||p1|p2}}||}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#switch:{{safesubst:#if:1951|p1|p2}}|p1=p1|p2={{safesubst:#ifeq:|error|{{safesubst:#ifeq:+|-|p2|p3}}|p2}}|if/errmsg}}|||1951|}}}} {{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:|eq|p1|p2}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#ifeq:|[[Category:H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship) Entrants of {{{2}}}]]|p1|p2}}||}}|{{safesubst:{{safesubst:#switch:{{safesubst:#if:|p1|p2}}|p1=p1|p2={{safesubst:#ifeq:|error|{{safesubst:#ifeq:+|-|p2|p3}}|p2}}|if/errmsg}}|[[Category:H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship) Entrants of {{{2}}}]]|||}}}}
