Richard Henry Peirse

Admiral SIR Richard Henry Peirse, K.C.B., K.B.E., M.V.O., Royal Navy (4 September, 1860 – 10 July, 1940) was an officer of the Royal Navy. He was Commander-in-Chief in the East Indies at the outbreak of the First World War, and afterwards assisted the Lord Fisher on the Board of Invention and Research.

Early Life & Career

Peirse was born in York on 4 September, 1860, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel C.H. Peirse. In 1873 he joined the Royal Navy, passing in seventh out of the twenty-four who sat the July entry examination. He served as a Midshipman in the Channel Squadron and in the corvette Charybdis on the China Station.

Peirse was promted to Lieutenant on 4 February, 1881, dated 1 January, 1881.

On 1 January, 1893 Peirse was promoted Commander, along with Cecil Burney and Douglas Gamble.

Peirse was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1900.

Great War

Peirse was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral dated 24 October, 1914.

Peirse was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 11 March, 1918.

Bibliography

• "Admiral Sir Richard Peirse" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 11 July, 1940. Issue 48665, col D, pg. 7.

Images

• 1920 Frederic Whiting portrait in the possession of the Imperial War Museum. Catalogue Number IWM ART 3056.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/39.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/20.

Naval Offices
Preceded by Frederick T. Hamilton	Inspector of Target Practice 1909 – 1911	Succeeded by Montague E. Browning
Preceded by F. C. Doveton Sturdee	Rear-Admiral in the First Division, Home Fleet 1911 – 1912	Succeeded by Charles E. Madden
Preceded by The Hon. Sir Alexander E. Bethell	Commander-in-Chief on the East Indies Station 1912 – 1916	Succeeded by Rosslyn E. Wemyss