John Michael de Robeck, First Baronet

Admiral SIR John Michael de Robeck, First Baronet, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., Royal Navy (10 June, 1862 – 20 January, 1928) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War. He is perhaps most notable for his command of the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron during the abortive attempts to force the Dardanelles in 1915. He later commanded a Battle Squadron in the Grand Fleet, and after the war ended held the commands of the Mediterranean and Atlantic Fleets.

Early Life & Career

He struck his flag in the Aboukir at Chatham on 26 July, 1914.

Great War

He hoisted his flag in the Amphitrite.

On 1 January, 1916, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.).

Post-War & Retirement

De Robeck was one of the senior officers who subsequently received the special thanks of parliament for his war services, being given a grant of £10,000 and created a baronet in 1919, besides being gazetted G.C.M.G. (1919) and G.C.B. (1921). In 1919 De Robeck was chosen as commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean fleet, hoisting his flag in the Iron Duke, which had been the flagship of Admiral Jellicoe at the battle of Jutland. It was an appropriate appointment, for no one of his rank was better qualified to act as high commissioner at Constantinople, the additional duty which was assigned to him pending the conclusion of a separate treaty of peace with Turkey. On 24 March, 1920, he had been promoted to the rank of Admiral, vice Grant. His period of duty in the Mediterranean was otherwise uneventful. On relinquishing this command in April 1922 he was appointed in August commander-in-chief of the Atlantic fleet, his flagship being the Queen Elizabeth, which had been Admiral Beatty's flagship when he took over the command of the grand fleet.

De Robeck's resignation of this command in 1924 marked the end of his sea career, although he remained on the active list and was promoted to admiral of the fleet in November 1925. On coming ashore De Robeck was able once more to take part in sport of all kinds. He was a keen follower of hounds, as well as a good shot, and owing to his sustained interest in cricket he was elected president of the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1925, being the first naval officer to hold that position.

De Robeck married in 1922 Hilda Maud, daughter of Colonel Augustus Henry Macdonald-Moreton, Coldstream Guards, of Hillgrove, Bembridge, Isle of Wight, and widow of Colonel Sir Simon Macdonald Lockhart, fifth baronet. There were no children of the marriage, and the baronetcy became extinct on the death of De Robeck, which took place suddenly at his house in London on 20 January, 1928.

There is a portrait-drawing of de Robeck by Francis Dodd in the Imperial War Museum, South Kensington.

Bibliography

• "Sir John de Robeck" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 21 January, 1928. Issue 44796, col B, pg. 12.

Papers

• Papers in the possession of Churchill College, Cambridge.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/42.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/20.

Naval Offices
Preceded by New Position	Admiral of Patrols 1912 – 1914	Succeeded by George A. Ballard
Preceded by New Command	Rear-Admiral Commanding, Cruiser Force I 1914 – 1915	Succeeded by Sir A. Gordon H. W. Moore
Preceded by Sackville H. Carden	Vice-Admiral Commanding, Eastern Mediterranean Squadron 1915 – 1916	Succeeded by Sir Cecil F. Thursby
Preceded by Sir Edward E. Bradford	Vice-Admiral Commanding, Third Battle Squadron 1916	Succeeded by Herbert L. Heath
Preceded by Sir T. H. Martyn Jerram	Vice-Admiral Commanding, Second Battle Squadron 1916 – 1919	Succeeded by Sir Henry F. Oliver
Preceded by The Hon. Sir Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe	Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean 1919 – 1922	Succeeded by Sir Osmond de B. Brock
Preceded by Sir Charles E. Madden, Bart.	Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet 1922 – 1924	Succeeded by Sir Henry F. Oliver