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[[Admiral of the Fleet]] {{SIR}} '''Hedworth Meux''' (pronounced ''mews'', to rhyme with ''sluice''),<ref>Reaney; Wilson.  ''A Dictionary of English Surnames''.  p. 307.</ref> G.C.B., K.C.V.O., Royal Navy (5 July, 1856 &ndash; 20 September, 1929) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]] in the period leading up to the [[First World War]].
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[[File:Hedworth Meux, June, 1917.jpg|thumb|350px|Admiral of the Fleet Sir Hedworth Meux, June, 1917.]]
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[[Admiral of the Fleet]] {{HONSIR}} '''Hedworth Meux''' (pronounced ''mews'', to rhyme with ''sluice''),<ref>Reaney; Wilson.  ''A Dictionary of English Surnames''.  p. 307.</ref> G.C.B., K.C.V.O., H<small>ON.</small> L.L.D. (Durham), Royal Navy (5 July, 1856 &ndash; 20 September, 1929) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]] in the period leading up to the [[First World War]].  An officer of noble birth, he enjoyed an active career which saw him become a household name during the Second Boer War for his actions during the Siege of Ladysmith.  His career culminated in the [[Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth|Command-in-Chief at Portsmouth]] and promoted to Admiral of the Fleet.
  
 
==Early Life & Career==
 
==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.   
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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.  His father asked for a nomination from H. C. E. Childers, [[First Lord of the Admiralty]], and Hedworth received a nomination in October, 1869.<ref>The National Archives.  ADM 6/447.  f. 16.</ref>
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He was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 27 February, 1879.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/24686/pages/1793 no. 24686.  p. 1793.]  28 February, 1879.</ref>
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On 5 February, 1880, Lambton was appointed Flag-Lieutenant to Sir F. Beauchamp P. Seymour, Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, flying his flag in the Alexandra.{{NLMar80|pp. 188, 193}}
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He was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 10 March, 1883.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/25211/pages/1385 no. 25211.  p. 1385.]  13 March, 1883.</ref>
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==Captain==
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Lambton was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1889.<ref>''The 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 [[H.M.S. Warspite (1884)|''Warspite'']], and as Flag Captain to Rear-Admiral [[Charles Frederick Hotham|Charles F. Hotham]], on the [[Pacific Station]].{{NLMar91|p. 266}}
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On 3 July, 1894, he was appointed [[Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty|Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty]], [[John Poyntz Spencer, Fifth Earl Spencer|Earl Spencer]].  He was reappointed as Private Secretary to Spencer's successor, [[George Joachim Goschen, First Viscount Goschen|George J. Goschen]].<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 774.</ref>
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He ceased duty as Private Secretary on 26 April, 1897, and on the same day was appointed to ''Victory'' for service in {{UK-Powerful|f=t}}, and took command of her on the [[China Station]] on 8 June.<ref>ADM 196/39.  f. 774.</ref>
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In the General Election of 1910 Lambton stood in the Liberal interest for Parliament in the two-member provincial borough of Newcaslte-upon-Tyne.  He placed fourth out of four candidates, with 10,453 votes, and was not elected.<ref>"The Polls" (News).  ''The Times''.  Friday, 5 October, 1900.  Issue '''36265''', col F, p. 8.</ref>
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He was appointed a [[Naval Aide-de-Camp]] to Queen Victoria on 1 January, 1901, vice [[Wilmot Hawkesworth Fawkes|Fawkes]].<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27265/pages/229 no. 27265.  p. 229.]  11 January, 1901.</ref>  He was reappointed in the same capacity to King Edward VII on 25 February.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27289/pages/1417 no. 27289.  p. 1417.]  26 February, 1901.</ref>  On 1 April he was appointed in command of the Royal Yacht ''Victoria and Albert'', and on 1 July was appointed {{Com2RN}} whilst in command of her.<ref>ADM 196/39.  f. 774.</ref>
  
 
==Flag Rank==
 
==Flag Rank==
On 3 October, 1902 he was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}}, vice [[Charles William de la Poer Beresford, First Baron Beresford|Lord Charles Beresford]].<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27483/pages/6569 no. 27483.  p. 6569.]  17 October, 1902.</ref>
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On 3 October, 1902, Lambton was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}}, vice [[Charles William de la Poer Beresford, First Baron Beresford|Lord Charles Beresford]].<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27483/pages/6569 no. 27483.  p. 6569.]  17 October, 1902.</ref>
  
Meux was promoted to the rank of {{FleetRN}} on 5 March, 1915, vice [[Gerard Henry Uctred Noel|Noel]].<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29094/pages/2365 no. 29094.  p. 2365.]  9 March, 1915.</ref>
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On 5 June, 1903, he was appointed Second-in-Command of the Channel Fleet, striking his flag on 24 June, 1904.  On 10 November he was appointed succeed [[Baldwin Wake Walker, Second Baronet|Sir Baldwin Wake Walker, Bart.]] in command of the Mediterranean Cruiser Division, which in December became the [[Third Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Third Cruiser Squadron]].  On the occasion of the King's visit to Corfu Lambton was appointed a Knight Commander in the Royal Victorian Order (K.C.V.O.) on 16 April, 1906.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27908/pages/2875 no. 27908.  p. 2875.]  27 April, 1906.</ref> He was superseded in command of the squadron on 10 November and struck his flag at Portsmouth on 1 December.
  
==Service as a Flag Officer==
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Lambton was promoted to the rank of {{ViceRN}} on 1 January, 1907, vice [[Albert Baldwin Jenkings|Jenkings]].<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27982/pages/30 no. 27982p. 30.] 1 January, 1907.</ref>
On 21 May, 1903, Meux was appointed Second-in-Command of the Channel Fleet.<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 9 May, 1903Issue '''37076''', col D, pg. 8.</ref> 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.
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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 [[Arthur William Moore|Sir Arthur W. Moore]] as [[Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth]] on 30 July,<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 16 July, 1912Issue '''39952''', col D, pg. 13.</ref> an office which he retained until February 1916, having been selected for the rank of admiral of the fleet in March 1915.
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On 1 January, 1908, he was appointed [[China Station|Commander-in-Chief on the China Station]], and hoisted his flag in H.M.S. ''President''.  He assumed command of the Station on 21 March, vice [[Arthur William Moore|Moore]].  On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, of the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 26 June.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28151/supplements/4641 (Supplement) no. 28151p. 4641.] 26 June, 1908.</ref>
  
On the outbreak of the European War, Meux's principal duty was to secure the safe passage of the transports conveying the British Expeditionary Force to France, and to guard the army's main line of communication from Southampton to Havre. This anxious work was carried out with complete success; moreover, on his own initiative, Meux organized a life-saving patrol service composed of yachts and other small craft, sailing under the blue ensign with a red cross at the main. On giving up his command he was persuaded to enter parliament, without contest, as conservative member for Portsmouth, in the vacancy caused by Lord Charles Beresford's elevation to the peerage. He was a popular figure in the House of Commons and several times intervened with vigorous speeches on naval subjects; but he was not really interested in parliamentary work, and retired at the general election of 1918.
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Lambton was superseded on the China Station on 25 January, 1910. He struck his flag at Portsmouth on 15 April. On 18 April he married Mildred Cecilia Harriet, Viscountess Chelsea, in a small ceremony at St. Paul's Church, Knightsbridge.  Among those present were Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Hotham and his Flag Captain in China, Captain [[Lewis Clinton-Baker]].<ref>"Marriage" (Marriages).  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 19 April, 1910.  Issue '''39250''', col A, p. 13.</ref>  She was the third daughter of Lord Alington (1825 &ndash; 1904), and widow of Viscount Chelsea (1868 &ndash; 1908).
  
Meux was now free to devote himself to the turf, which since his boyhood had been his greatest interest outside the navy. He had started breeding blood stock in 1882, and had had some good horses trained by Tom Green at Stapleton Park, Pontefract. He won the Grand Military gold cup with ‘Ruy Lopez’ in 1895, and was elected to the Jockey Club in 1906. On inheriting Theobald's Park, where Lady Meux had a racing stable, he bred his own horses there, and with them won the Hardwicke stakes at Ascot three times, the Manchester November Handicap (top weight), the Liverpool cup, the Chester cup, and many other races. He was a very shrewd judge of racing and breeding and of all turf matters, and would have been an even more successful owner had he not been too fond of his horses to part with them.
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In December he was left a fortune by Lady Valerie Susie, widow of Sir Henry Brent Meux, brewer, Third Baronet, of Theobald's Park, Waltham Cross.  During the Second Boer 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 of the Army 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 on 2 September, 1911.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28530/pages/6729 no. 28530.  p. 6729.]  12 September, 1911.</ref>  He had been promoted to the rank of {{AdmRN}} on 1 March.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28473/pages/1958 no. 28473.  p. 1958.]  7 March, 1911.</ref>  Meux, as he now was, succeeded Sir Arthur W. Moore as [[Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth]] on 30 July, 1912.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 16 July, 1912.  Issue '''39952''', col D, p. 13.</ref>  On the occasion of the King's birthday he 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 3 June, 1913.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28724/supplements/3903 (Supplement) no. 28724.  p. 3903.]  3 June, 1913.</ref>  He was promoted to the rank of {{FleetRN}} on 5 March, 1915, vice [[Gerard Henry Uctred Noel|Noel]].<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29094/pages/2365 no. 29094.  p. 2365.]  9 March, 1915.</ref>
  
Meux was a man of strong and independent character, though by no means a typical naval officer; in fact, the service was for him an interest rather than a profession. He carried out his duties with marked ability and won the confidence not only of King Edward VII but of all his associates in the service. He was created C.V.O. in 1901 and K.C.V.O. in 1906. He was promoted K.C.B. in 1908 and G.C.B. in 1913. He died 20 September 1929 at Danebury, an estate which he had bought near Stockbridge. His will was proved at £910,465 gross, with net personalty £734,265. He had no children, and he left his fortune, subject to his widow's interest, to her grandson, Ian Hedworth Gilmour.
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==Post-War & Retirement==
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He was installed as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in a ceremonial investiture at Westminster Abbey, the first since 1913, on 18 May, 1920.<ref>"Order of the Bath" (News). ''The Times''. Wednesday, 19 May, 1920. Issue '''42414''', col B, p. 11.</ref>
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He was placed on the Retired List for age on 5 July, 1921.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32394/pages/5733 no. 32394. p. 5733.]  19 July, 1921.</ref>
  
 
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.
 
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==
 
{{reflist}}
 
  
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
*"Admiral of the Fleet Sir H. Meux" (Obituaries).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 21 September, 1929.  Issue '''45314''', col B, pg. 12.
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*"Admiral of the Fleet Sir H. Meux" (Obituaries).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 21 September, 1929.  Issue '''45314''', col B, p. 12.
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
  
==Service Record==
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==Papers==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
*The National Archives. [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7916895&queryType=1&resultcount=1 ADM 196/39.]
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*Papers in the possession of the Lambton family.
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
  
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==Service Records==
 +
{{refbegin}}
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*{{ADM196|86|D8115156}}  Volume 1.  f. 80.
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*{{ADM196|39|D7601412}}  Volume 2.  ff. 774-775.
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*{{ADM196|19|D7590176}}  Volume 7.  ff. 364, 500.
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{{refend}}
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<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
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{{TabNaval}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Wilmot Hawkesworth Fawkes|Wilmot H. Fawkes]]'''|'''[[H.M.Y. Osborne (1870)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Osborne'']]'''<br>16 Jan, 1888{{NLFeb88|p. 222}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Archibald Berkeley Milne, Second Baronet|Archibald B. Milne]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Warspite (1884)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Warspite'']]'''<br>4 Feb, 1890{{NLMar91|p. 266}}<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/19.}} f. 364.</ref> &ndash; 24 Jun, 1893<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/19.}} f. 364.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Robert Frederick Hammick|Robert F. Hammick]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Richard Horace Hamond|Richard H. Hamond]]'''|'''[[Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty|Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty]]'''<br>3 Jul, 1894<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 774.</ref> &ndash; 25 Apr, 1897<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/19.}} f. 364.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Wilmot Hawkesworth Fawkes|Wilmot H. Fawkes]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Powerful (1895)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Powerful'']]'''<br>8 Jun, 1897{{NLOct98|p. 282}}<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 774.</ref> &ndash; 8 Jun, 1900<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/19.}} f. 364.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[James Startin|James Startin]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.Y. Victoria and Albert (1899)|Captain of H.M.Y. ''Victoria and Albert'']]'''<br>1 Apr, 1901{{NLMay02|p. 309''a''}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Archibald Berkeley Milne, Second Baronet|Sir. Archibald Berkeley Milne, Bart.]]'''}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Reginald Thomas Fullerton|Sir John R. T. Fullerton]]'''<br><small>as '''Vice-Admiral Commanding, H.M. Yachts'''</small>|'''[[H.M. Yachts (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral Commanding, H.M. Yachts]]'''<br>1 Apr, 1901<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  p. 774.</ref> &ndash; 23 Apr, 1903<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/19.}} f. 500.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Archibald Berkeley Milne, Second Baronet|Sir A. Berkeley Milne, Bart.]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[Channel Fleet (Royal Navy)|Second-in-Command, Channel Fleet]]'''<br>5 Jun, 1903<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 774.</ref> &ndash; 25 Jun, 1904<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/19.}} f. 500.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Francis Charles Bridgeman Bridgeman|Francis C. B. Bridgeman]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[Third Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Cruiser Squadron]]'''<br>10 Nov, 1904<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39}}.  f. 774.</ref> &ndash; 1 Dec, 1906<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/19.}}  f. 500.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Henry Deacon Barry|Sir Henry D. Barry]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur William Moore|Sir Arthur W. Moore]]'''|'''[[China Station|Commander-in-Chief, China Station]]'''<br>1 Jan, 1908{{UKCeased|Unnumbered page}}<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/19.}} f. 500.</ref> &ndash; 6 Mar, 1910<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/19.}} f. 500.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Alfred Leigh Winsloe|Sir Alfred L. Winsloe]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur William Moore|Sir Arthur W. Moore]]'''|'''[[Portsmouth Station|Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth Station]]'''<br>30 Jul, 1912<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 16 July, 1912.  Issue '''39952''', col D, p. 13.</ref> &ndash; 17 Feb, 1916<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/19.}} f. 500.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Stanley Cecil James Colville|The Hon. Sir Stanley C. J. Colville]]'''}}
 +
{{TabEnd}}
 +
</div name=fredbot:appts>
 +
 +
==Footnotes==
 +
{{reflist}}
  
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="center"
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Meux, Hedworth}}
|-
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| colspan="3" align="center" style="background:#CEDFF2" | '''Naval Offices'''
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|-
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Preceded by<br>'''[[Richard Horace Hamond|Richard H. Hamond]]'''
+
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| '''[[Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty|Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty]]'''<br>1894 &ndash; 1897
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| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Succeeded by<br>'''[[Wilmot Hawkesworth Fawkes|Wilmot H. Fawkes]]'''
+
|-
+
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur William Moore|Sir Arthur W. Moore]]'''
+
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| '''[[China Station|Commander-in-Chief on the China Station]]'''<br>1908 &ndash; 1910
+
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Succeeded by<br>'''[[Alfred Leigh Winsloe|Sir Alfred L. Winsloe]]'''
+
|-
+
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur William Moore|Sir Arthur W. Moore]]'''
+
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| '''[[Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth]]'''<br>1912 &ndash; 1916
+
| width="220" style="border-bottom:1px solid grey;"  align="center"| Succeeded by<br>'''[[Stanley Cecil James Colville|The Hon. Sir Stanley C. J. Colville]]'''
+
|-
+
|}
+
  
[[Category:1856 births|Meux]]
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{{CatPerson|UK|1856|1929}}
[[Category:1929 deaths|Meux]]
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{{CatBritannia|January, 1870}}
[[Category:Personalities|Meux]]
+
{{CatAdmOfTheFleet|UK}}
[[Category:H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship) Entrants of January, 1870|Meux]]
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[[Category:Private Secretaries to the First Lord of the Admiralty|Meux]]
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[[Category:Rear-Admirals in Command of H.M. Yachts (Royal Navy)|Meux]]
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[[Category:Commanders-in-Chief on the China Station|Meux]]
+
[[Category:Commanders-in-Chief, Portsmouth|Meux]]
+
[[Category:Royal Navy Admirals of the Fleet|Meux]]
+
[[Category:Royal Navy Flag Officers|Meux]]
+

Revision as of 10:28, 29 October 2018

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Hedworth Meux, June, 1917.

Admiral of the Fleet THE HONOURABLE 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. An officer of noble birth, he enjoyed an active career which saw him become a household name during the Second Boer War for his actions during the Siege of Ladysmith. His career culminated in the Command-in-Chief at Portsmouth and promoted to Admiral of the Fleet.

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. His father asked for a nomination from H. C. E. Childers, First Lord of the Admiralty, and Hedworth received a nomination in October, 1869.[2]

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 27 February, 1879.[3]

On 5 February, 1880, Lambton was appointed Flag-Lieutenant to Sir F. Beauchamp P. Seymour, Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, flying his flag in the Alexandra.[4]

He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 10 March, 1883.[5]

Captain

Lambton was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1889.[6] 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.[7]

On 3 July, 1894, he was appointed Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty, Earl Spencer. He was reappointed as Private Secretary to Spencer's successor, George J. Goschen.[8]

He ceased duty as Private Secretary on 26 April, 1897, and on the same day was appointed to Victory for service in first class protected cruiser Powerful, and took command of her on the China Station on 8 June.[9]

In the General Election of 1910 Lambton stood in the Liberal interest for Parliament in the two-member provincial borough of Newcaslte-upon-Tyne. He placed fourth out of four candidates, with 10,453 votes, and was not elected.[10]

He was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria on 1 January, 1901, vice Fawkes.[11] He was reappointed in the same capacity to King Edward VII on 25 February.[12] On 1 April he was appointed in command of the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert, and on 1 July was appointed Commodore, Second Class whilst in command of her.[13]

Flag Rank

On 3 October, 1902, Lambton was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, vice Lord Charles Beresford.[14]

On 5 June, 1903, he was appointed Second-in-Command of the Channel Fleet, striking his flag on 24 June, 1904. On 10 November he was appointed succeed Sir Baldwin Wake Walker, Bart. in command of the Mediterranean Cruiser Division, which in December became the Third Cruiser Squadron. On the occasion of the King's visit to Corfu Lambton was appointed a Knight Commander in the Royal Victorian Order (K.C.V.O.) on 16 April, 1906.[15] He was superseded in command of the squadron on 10 November and struck his flag at Portsmouth on 1 December.

Lambton was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 January, 1907, vice Jenkings.[16]

On 1 January, 1908, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief on the China Station, and hoisted his flag in H.M.S. President. He assumed command of the Station on 21 March, vice Moore. On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, of the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 26 June.[17]

Lambton was superseded on the China Station on 25 January, 1910. He struck his flag at Portsmouth on 15 April. On 18 April he married Mildred Cecilia Harriet, Viscountess Chelsea, in a small ceremony at St. Paul's Church, Knightsbridge. Among those present were Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Hotham and his Flag Captain in China, Captain Lewis Clinton-Baker.[18] She was the third daughter of Lord Alington (1825 – 1904), and widow of Viscount Chelsea (1868 – 1908).

In December he was left a fortune by Lady Valerie Susie, widow of Sir Henry Brent Meux, brewer, Third Baronet, of Theobald's Park, Waltham Cross. During the Second Boer 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 of the Army 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 on 2 September, 1911.[19] He had been promoted to the rank of Admiral on 1 March.[20] Meux, as he now was, succeeded Sir Arthur W. Moore as Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth on 30 July, 1912.[21] On the occasion of the King's birthday he 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 3 June, 1913.[22] He was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet on 5 March, 1915, vice Noel.[23]

Post-War & Retirement

He was installed as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in a ceremonial investiture at Westminster Abbey, the first since 1913, on 18 May, 1920.[24]

He was placed on the Retired List for age on 5 July, 1921.[25]

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.

Bibliography

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

Papers

  • Papers in the possession of the Lambton family.

Service Records

  • The National Archives. ADM 196/86. Volume 1. f. 80.
  • The National Archives. ADM 196/39. Volume 2. ff. 774-775.
  • The National Archives. ADM 196/19. Volume 7. ff. 364, 500.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Wilmot H. Fawkes
Captain of H.M.S. Osborne
16 Jan, 1888[26]
Succeeded by
Archibald B. Milne
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Warspite
4 Feb, 1890[27][28] – 24 Jun, 1893[29]
Succeeded by
Robert F. Hammick
Preceded by
Richard H. Hamond
Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty
3 Jul, 1894[30] – 25 Apr, 1897[31]
Succeeded by
Wilmot H. Fawkes
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Powerful
8 Jun, 1897[32][33] – 8 Jun, 1900[34]
Succeeded by
James Startin
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.Y. Victoria and Albert
1 Apr, 1901[35]
Succeeded by
Sir. Archibald Berkeley Milne, Bart.
Preceded by
Sir John R. T. Fullerton
as Vice-Admiral Commanding, H.M. Yachts
Rear-Admiral Commanding, H.M. Yachts
1 Apr, 1901[36] – 23 Apr, 1903[37]
Succeeded by
Sir A. Berkeley Milne, Bart.
Preceded by
?
Second-in-Command, Channel Fleet
5 Jun, 1903[38] – 25 Jun, 1904[39]
Succeeded by
Francis C. B. Bridgeman
Preceded by
?
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Cruiser Squadron
10 Nov, 1904[40] – 1 Dec, 1906[41]
Succeeded by
Sir Henry D. Barry
Preceded by
Sir Arthur W. Moore
Commander-in-Chief, China Station
1 Jan, 1908[42][43] – 6 Mar, 1910[44]
Succeeded by
Sir Alfred L. Winsloe
Preceded by
Sir Arthur W. Moore
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth Station
30 Jul, 1912[45] – 17 Feb, 1916[46]
Succeeded by
The Hon. Sir Stanley C. J. Colville

Footnotes

  1. Reaney; Wilson. A Dictionary of English Surnames. p. 307.
  2. The National Archives. ADM 6/447. f. 16.
  3. The London Gazette: no. 24686. p. 1793. 28 February, 1879.
  4. The Navy List. (March, 1880). pp. 188, 193.
  5. The London Gazette: no. 25211. p. 1385. 13 March, 1883.
  6. The London Gazette: no. 25969. p. 4738. 30 August, 1889.
  7. The Navy List. (April, 1891). p. 266.
  8. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 774.
  9. ADM 196/39. f. 774.
  10. "The Polls" (News). The Times. Friday, 5 October, 1900. Issue 36265, col F, p. 8.
  11. The London Gazette: no. 27265. p. 229. 11 January, 1901.
  12. The London Gazette: no. 27289. p. 1417. 26 February, 1901.
  13. ADM 196/39. f. 774.
  14. The London Gazette: no. 27483. p. 6569. 17 October, 1902.
  15. The London Gazette: no. 27908. p. 2875. 27 April, 1906.
  16. The London Gazette: no. 27982. p. 30. 1 January, 1907.
  17. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 28151. p. 4641. 26 June, 1908.
  18. "Marriage" (Marriages). The Times. Tuesday, 19 April, 1910. Issue 39250, col A, p. 13.
  19. The London Gazette: no. 28530. p. 6729. 12 September, 1911.
  20. The London Gazette: no. 28473. p. 1958. 7 March, 1911.
  21. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 16 July, 1912. Issue 39952, col D, p. 13.
  22. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 28724. p. 3903. 3 June, 1913.
  23. The London Gazette: no. 29094. p. 2365. 9 March, 1915.
  24. "Order of the Bath" (News). The Times. Wednesday, 19 May, 1920. Issue 42414, col B, p. 11.
  25. The London Gazette: no. 32394. p. 5733. 19 July, 1921.
  26. The Navy List. (February, 1888). p. 222.
  27. The Navy List. (April, 1891). p. 266.
  28. Meux Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 364.
  29. Meux Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 364.
  30. Meux Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 774.
  31. Meux Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 364.
  32. The Navy List. (October, 1898). p. 282.
  33. Meux Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 774.
  34. Meux Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 364.
  35. The Navy List. (May, 1902). p. 309a.
  36. Meux Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. p. 774.
  37. Meux Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 500.
  38. Meux Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 774.
  39. Meux Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 500.
  40. Meux Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 774.
  41. Meux Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 500.
  42. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. Unnumbered page.
  43. Meux Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 500.
  44. Meux Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 500.
  45. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 16 July, 1912. Issue 39952, col D, p. 13.
  46. Meux Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/19. f. 500.