Difference between revisions of "Hedworth Meux"

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==Captain==
 
==Captain==
Lambton was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1889.<ref>Lambton Service Record.</ref>  On 4 February, 1890, he was appointed in command of the cruiser ''Warspite'', and as Flag Captain to Rear-Admiral [[Charles Frederick Hotham|Charles F. Hotham]], on the [[Pacific Station]].<ref>''Navy List'' (March, 1891).  p. 266.</ref>
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Lambton was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1889.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/25969/pages/4738 no. 25969.  p. 4738.]  30 August, 1889.</ref>  On 4 February, 1890, he was appointed in command of the cruiser ''Warspite'', and as Flag Captain to Rear-Admiral [[Charles Frederick Hotham|Charles F. Hotham]], on the [[Pacific Station]].<ref>''Navy List'' (March, 1891).  p. 266.</ref>
  
 
==Flag Rank==
 
==Flag Rank==

Revision as of 15:29, 15 April 2011

Admiral of the Fleet SIR Hedworth Meux (pronounced mews, to rhyme with sluice),[1] G.C.B., K.C.V.O., HON. L.L.D. (Durham), Royal Navy (5 July, 1856 – 20 September, 1929) was an officer of the Royal Navy in the period leading up to the First World War.

Early Life & Career

Meux was born Hedworth Lambton in London 5 July 1856, the third son of George Frederick D'Arcy Lambton, second Earl of Durham, by his wife, Lady Beatrix Frances, second daughter of James Hamilton, First Duke of Abercorn.

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 27 February, 1879.[2]

He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 10 March, 1883.[3]

Captain

Lambton was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1889.[4] On 4 February, 1890, he was appointed in command of the cruiser Warspite, and as Flag Captain to Rear-Admiral Charles F. Hotham, on the Pacific Station.[5]

Flag Rank

On 3 October, 1902 he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, vice Lord Charles Beresford.[6]

Lambton was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 January, 1907, vice Jenkings.[7]

Lambton was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 1 March, 1911.[8]

Meux was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet on 5 March, 1915, vice Noel.[9]

Service as a Flag Officer

On 21 May, 1903, Meux was appointed Second-in-Command of the Channel Fleet.[10] and from November 1904 to December 1906 he commanded the cruiser division of the Mediterranean fleet. In January 1908 he was appointed vice-admiral and commander-in-chief in China, returning home in April 1910.

At this stage in Lambton's career occurred a great change in his private affairs. A few days after hauling down his flag he married Mildred, third daughter of the first Baron Alington [q.v.] and widow of Viscount Chelsea (died 1908), second son of the fifth Earl Cadogan [q.v.] . In the following December he came into a large fortune under the will of Valerie Susie, widow of Sir Henry Brent Meux, brewer, third baronet, of Theobald's Park, Waltham Cross. During the South African War Lady Meux, on hearing of the landing of the naval guns for the defence of Ladysmith, had ordered six naval 12-pounder guns, mounted on travelling carriages, to be made at Elswick and sent out to the commander-in-chief in South Africa, Lord Roberts. They were known as the Elswick battery. On his return to England later in that year, Lambton had called upon Lady Meux, described the work of his guns at Ladysmith, and praised her patriotic action in sending similar guns to the front. Touched by this tribute, Lady Meux, after making many wills, decided to make Lambton her heir on the sole condition that he changed his name to Meux. This he did by royal licence in September 1911. He was promoted admiral in March 1911 and remained on half-pay until he succeeded Sir Arthur W. Moore as Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth on 30 July,[11] an office which he retained until February 1916, having been selected for the rank of admiral of the fleet in March 1915.

He was placed on the Retired List for age on 5 July, 1921.[12]

There are portraits of Meux, painted by P. A. de László and Ambrose McEvoy, in the possession of his widow, who subsequently married Lord Charles Montagu. A cartoon of him by ‘Spy’ appeared in Vanity Fair 28 June 1900.

Footnotes

  1. Reaney; Wilson. A Dictionary of English Surnames. p. 307.
  2. London Gazette: no. 24686. p. 1793. 28 February, 1879.
  3. London Gazette: no. 25211. p. 1385. 13 March, 1883.
  4. London Gazette: no. 25969. p. 4738. 30 August, 1889.
  5. Navy List (March, 1891). p. 266.
  6. London Gazette: no. 27483. p. 6569. 17 October, 1902.
  7. London Gazette: no. 27982. p. 30. 1 January, 1907.
  8. London Gazette: no. 28473. p. 1958. 7 March, 1911.
  9. London Gazette: no. 29094. p. 2365. 9 March, 1915.
  10. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 9 May, 1903. Issue 37076, col D, pg. 8.
  11. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 16 July, 1912. Issue 39952, col D, pg. 13.
  12. London Gazette: no. 32394. p. 5733. 19 July, 1921.

Bibliography

  • "Admiral of the Fleet Sir H. Meux" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 21 September, 1929. Issue 45314, col B, pg. 12.

Service Record


Naval Offices
Preceded by
Richard H. Hamond
Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty
1894 – 1897
Succeeded by
Wilmot H. Fawkes
Preceded by
Sir Arthur W. Moore
Commander-in-Chief on the China Station
1908 – 1910
Succeeded by
Sir Alfred L. Winsloe
Preceded by
Sir Arthur W. Moore
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
1912 – 1916
Succeeded by
The Hon. Sir Stanley C. J. Colville