Richard Bowles Farquhar

Admiral Richard B., Farquhar.
Photograph: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Admiral Richard Bowles Farquhar, C.B., Royal Navy (12 January, 1859 – 27 November, 1948) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

He was the second son of Admiral Arthur Farquhar and grandson of Rear-Admiral Farquhar who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. His eldest brother was Admiral Arthur Murray Farquhar.

In July, 1871, Farquhar was ranked nineteenth in order of merit of thirty-five candidates accepted as Naval Cadets following the entrance examinations.

Farquhar was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 16 September, 1881.

Farquhar was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 January, 1894.

On 31 December, 1899, he was promoted to the rank of Captain.

He was temporarily appointed command of the battleship Howe on 18 July, 1904.

He was appointed to command the armoured cruiser Essex on 14 September, 1904.

He was appointed command of the battleship Magnificent on 6 November, 1906, but then to Triumph on 4 December, 1906.

Farquhar was appointed Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance on 12 November, 1907, He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 2 December, 1908, vice Scott.

He was relieved as Chief Inspector by Francis G. Eyre on 12 January, 1911.

In 1911 he served as Rear-Admiral of the Devonport Sub-Division of the Home Fleet. In November, 1912 he was appointed president of the Committee on the Ventilation of Modern Warships.

On 1 April, 1913 Farquhar was appointed Vice-President of the Ordnance Board.

Great War

Farquhar was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 11 September, 1914, vice Sir Edmund S. Poë.

Farquhar was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Second Class, or Companion, of the Civil Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 1 January, 1917. He was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 5 October, 1917. He was placed on the Retired List on 1 January, 1918, "at his own request."

Bibliography

• "Adml R. B. Farquhar" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 29 November, 1948. Issue 51241, col E, p. 7.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/87.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/38.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/20.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Arthur A. C. Galloway	Rear-Admiral Commanding, Devonport Division, Home Fleet 1911 – 1912	Succeeded by Henry L. Tottenham

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Paul W. Bush	Captain of H.M.S. Sandfly 21 Jan, 1892 – 31 Dec, 1893	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Arthur W. Torlesse	Captain of H.M.S. Havock 26 Jun, 1894 – 27 Aug, 1894	Succeeded by Lionel G. Tufnell
Preceded by Ernest A. Simons	Captain of H.M.S. Hero 28 Aug, 1894	Succeeded by William F. De Salis
Preceded by Joseph Honner	Assistant Secretary to the Ordnance Committee 24 Aug, 1896 – 17 Jan, 1899	Succeeded by Arthur W. Waymouth
Preceded by Charles L. Ottley	Captain of H.M.S. Nymphe 18 Jul, 1899 – 16 Feb, 1900	Succeeded by Henry J. D. Laxton
Preceded by The Hon. Walter G. Stopford	Naval Adviser to the Inspector-General of Fortifications 11 Oct, 1900	Succeeded by W. Lowther Grant
Preceded by Robert G. Fraser	Captain of H.M.S. Intrepid 2 Oct, 1902	Succeeded by Norman L. Stanley
Preceded by Henry L. Fleet	Captain of H.M.S. Howe 18 Jul, 1904	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by John E. Bearcroft	Captain of H.M.S. Essex 14 Sep, 1904	Succeeded by Claud A. W. Hamilton
Preceded by Arthur M. Farquhar	Captain of H.M.S. Magnificent 6 Nov, 1906	Succeeded by Sackville H. Carden
Preceded by Frederic E. E. Brock	Captain of H.M.S. Triumph 4 Dec, 1906 – 1907	Succeeded by Edmund R. Pears
Preceded by New Appointment	Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance 12 Nov, 1907	Succeeded by Francis G. Eyre
Preceded by Arthur H. P. Turner	Vice-President of the Ordnance Board 1 Apr, 1913	Succeeded by Cuthbert E. Hunter as Vice-President of the Ordnance Committee