Difference between revisions of "William Alison Dyke Acland, Second Baronet"

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William Alison Dyke Acland was born on 18 December, 1847, the eldest of seven sons born to Sir Henry Wentworth Acland (died 1900), the first baronet.  He was educated at private schools before joining the [[Royal Navy]], entering the [[H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship)|''Britannia'']] in September, 1861.  In June, 1867 he became a {{SubRN}} and was appointed to the ''Caledonia'', flagship of Vice-Admiral Lord Clarence Paget in the Mediterranean.  After service in the Royal Yacht,<ref name=Obit>"Admiral Sir W. A. Dyke Acland" (Obituaries).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 27 November, 1924.  Issue '''43820''', col E, pg. 14.</ref> he was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on with seniority of 21 September, 1868.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/23427/pages/5168 no. 23427.  p. 5168.]  29 September, 1868.</ref>  In December, 1870 he was appointed to [[H.M.S. Excellent (Gunnery Training School)|''Excellent'']],<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Friday, 30 December, 1870.  Issue '''26947''', col C, pg. 3.</ref> and he specialised in gunnery duties.  In June, 1872 he was appointed as a Junior Staff Officer at ''Excellent'', before being appointed Gunnery Lieutenant of the ''Bellerophon'', flagship of Vice-Admiral George Wellesley on the North American Station.  In 1876 he became a Senior Staff Officer in ''Excellent'',<ref name=Obit/> and on 31 March, 1879 Acland was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}}.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/24703/pages/2560 no. 24703.  p. 2560.]  1 April, 1879.</ref>
 
William Alison Dyke Acland was born on 18 December, 1847, the eldest of seven sons born to Sir Henry Wentworth Acland (died 1900), the first baronet.  He was educated at private schools before joining the [[Royal Navy]], entering the [[H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship)|''Britannia'']] in September, 1861.  In June, 1867 he became a {{SubRN}} and was appointed to the ''Caledonia'', flagship of Vice-Admiral Lord Clarence Paget in the Mediterranean.  After service in the Royal Yacht,<ref name=Obit>"Admiral Sir W. A. Dyke Acland" (Obituaries).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 27 November, 1924.  Issue '''43820''', col E, pg. 14.</ref> he was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on with seniority of 21 September, 1868.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/23427/pages/5168 no. 23427.  p. 5168.]  29 September, 1868.</ref>  In December, 1870 he was appointed to [[H.M.S. Excellent (Gunnery Training School)|''Excellent'']],<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Friday, 30 December, 1870.  Issue '''26947''', col C, pg. 3.</ref> and he specialised in gunnery duties.  In June, 1872 he was appointed as a Junior Staff Officer at ''Excellent'', before being appointed Gunnery Lieutenant of the ''Bellerophon'', flagship of Vice-Admiral George Wellesley on the North American Station.  In 1876 he became a Senior Staff Officer in ''Excellent'',<ref name=Obit/> and on 31 March, 1879 Acland was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}}.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/24703/pages/2560 no. 24703.  p. 2560.]  1 April, 1879.</ref>
  
In 1879 Acland was appointed to the ''Triumph'' under Captain (later Admiral Sir) [[Albert Hastings Markham|Albert H. Markham]].  In October, 1880 the ship was ordered from Vancouver to Callao to preotect British interests while the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Pacific War of the Pacific] raged between Chile and Peru.  Acland was offered by Rear-Admiral Stirling the position of naval attaché at Chilean General Headquarters, and was present at the battles of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chorrillos Chorrillos] and of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Miraflores Miraflores] in 1881.  In May, 1883 he received command of the composite sloop ''Miranda'' on the Australian Station, and among his other duties on that station he was put in charge of preparing naval defences at Sydney, and also served as a Deputy Commissioner in the Western Pacific.  He went on Half Pay for a period of time<ref name=Obit/> after being promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 1 January, 1885.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/25429/pages/26 no. 25429.  p. 26.]  2 January, 1885.</ref>
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In 1879 Acland was appointed to the ''Triumph'' under Captain (later Admiral Sir) [[Albert Hastings Markham|Albert H. Markham]].  In October, 1880 the ship was ordered from Vancouver to Callao to preotect British interests while the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Pacific War of the Pacific] raged between Chile and Peru.  Acland was offered by Rear-Admiral Stirling the position of naval attaché at Chilean General Headquarters, and was present at the battles of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chorrillos Chorrillos] and of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Miraflores Miraflores] in 1881.  In May, 1883 he received command of the composite sloop ''Miranda'' on the Australian Station, and among his other duties on that station he was put in charge of preparing naval defences at Sydney, and also served as a Deputy-Commissioner for the Western Pacific.  He went on Half Pay for a period of time<ref name=Obit/> after being promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 1 January, 1885.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/25429/pages/26 no. 25429.  p. 26.]  2 January, 1885.</ref>
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In July, 1889, Acland returned to sea in command of the second-class cruiser ''Volage'' in the [[Training Squadron (Royal Navy)|Training Squadron]].  He afterwards commanded the first-class cruiser ''Edgar'' in the Mediterranean before taking command of the ''Australia'', coastguard ship in Southampton Water.  In 1895 he was sent in her to Le Havre to do honour to the newly-elected President of France.<ref name=Obit/>  Having met the Consular Corps on 18 April, President Faure was introduced to Acland and the officers of ''Australia'' and told the reason of their presence.  The President replied:
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:I am happy to salute the commander of the ''Australia'' and the officers accompanying him.  I am touched by the fact that the Queen's government has taken advantage of my visit to Havre to send this ship into our waters.  I see in this a fresh sign of the neighbourly relations existing between Great Britain and us, and a manifestation which cannot but render our relations still more cordial.  You have expressed to me through the Consul-General your desire that I should visit your fine ship.  I shall be happy to go aboard the ''Australia'', and will inform you as to the day and hour of my visit.
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Afterwards, Acland was present at the banquet given by the President at the Sub-Prefecture, and the officers of the ''Australia'' were present at the concert given that night at the Théatre du Cirque.<ref>"M. Faure at havre" (News).  ''The Times''.  Friday, 19 April, 1895.  Issue '''34555''', col D, pg. 3.</ref>  The French President gave a Acland a signed portrait, which according to his obituary "he greatly prized".  In March, 1896 he was created a Naval Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria, and was appointed in command of the ''Indus'', coastguard ship in Reserve at Devonport.  On 30 June, 1899 he was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}}.<ref name=Obit/>  He hoisted his flag in the battleship [[H.M.S. Magnificent (1894)|''Magnificent'']] on the morning of 5 June, 1901, in succession to Rear-Admiral [[Albert Baldwin Jenkings|Jenkings]].<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 6 June, 1901.  Issue '''36474''', col E, pg. 11.</ref>
  
 
==Footnotes==
 
==Footnotes==

Revision as of 07:03, 25 March 2010

Sir William A. D. Acland, Bart. as a Rear-Admiral.
Photo: Library of Congress.

Admiral SIR William Alison Dyke Acland, Second Baronet, C.V.O., Royal Navy (18 December, 1847 – 26 November, 1924) was an officer of the Royal Navy in the latter half of the nineteenth century. He served as naval attaché to Chile during the War of the Pacific. He retired to Torquay after his last flag appointment ended in 1904 and retired from the service in 1911 with the rank of Admiral.

Life & Career

William Alison Dyke Acland was born on 18 December, 1847, the eldest of seven sons born to Sir Henry Wentworth Acland (died 1900), the first baronet. He was educated at private schools before joining the Royal Navy, entering the Britannia in September, 1861. In June, 1867 he became a Sub-Lieutenant and was appointed to the Caledonia, flagship of Vice-Admiral Lord Clarence Paget in the Mediterranean. After service in the Royal Yacht,[1] he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on with seniority of 21 September, 1868.[2] In December, 1870 he was appointed to Excellent,[3] and he specialised in gunnery duties. In June, 1872 he was appointed as a Junior Staff Officer at Excellent, before being appointed Gunnery Lieutenant of the Bellerophon, flagship of Vice-Admiral George Wellesley on the North American Station. In 1876 he became a Senior Staff Officer in Excellent,[1] and on 31 March, 1879 Acland was promoted to the rank of Commander.[4]

In 1879 Acland was appointed to the Triumph under Captain (later Admiral Sir) Albert H. Markham. In October, 1880 the ship was ordered from Vancouver to Callao to preotect British interests while the War of the Pacific raged between Chile and Peru. Acland was offered by Rear-Admiral Stirling the position of naval attaché at Chilean General Headquarters, and was present at the battles of Chorrillos and of Miraflores in 1881. In May, 1883 he received command of the composite sloop Miranda on the Australian Station, and among his other duties on that station he was put in charge of preparing naval defences at Sydney, and also served as a Deputy-Commissioner for the Western Pacific. He went on Half Pay for a period of time[1] after being promoted to the rank of Captain on 1 January, 1885.[5]

In July, 1889, Acland returned to sea in command of the second-class cruiser Volage in the Training Squadron. He afterwards commanded the first-class cruiser Edgar in the Mediterranean before taking command of the Australia, coastguard ship in Southampton Water. In 1895 he was sent in her to Le Havre to do honour to the newly-elected President of France.[1] Having met the Consular Corps on 18 April, President Faure was introduced to Acland and the officers of Australia and told the reason of their presence. The President replied:

I am happy to salute the commander of the Australia and the officers accompanying him. I am touched by the fact that the Queen's government has taken advantage of my visit to Havre to send this ship into our waters. I see in this a fresh sign of the neighbourly relations existing between Great Britain and us, and a manifestation which cannot but render our relations still more cordial. You have expressed to me through the Consul-General your desire that I should visit your fine ship. I shall be happy to go aboard the Australia, and will inform you as to the day and hour of my visit.

Afterwards, Acland was present at the banquet given by the President at the Sub-Prefecture, and the officers of the Australia were present at the concert given that night at the Théatre du Cirque.[6] The French President gave a Acland a signed portrait, which according to his obituary "he greatly prized". In March, 1896 he was created a Naval Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria, and was appointed in command of the Indus, coastguard ship in Reserve at Devonport. On 30 June, 1899 he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral.[1] He hoisted his flag in the battleship Magnificent on the morning of 5 June, 1901, in succession to Rear-Admiral Jenkings.[7]

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Admiral Sir W. A. Dyke Acland" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 27 November, 1924. Issue 43820, col E, pg. 14.
  2. London Gazette: no. 23427. p. 5168. 29 September, 1868.
  3. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 30 December, 1870. Issue 26947, col C, pg. 3.
  4. London Gazette: no. 24703. p. 2560. 1 April, 1879.
  5. London Gazette: no. 25429. p. 26. 2 January, 1885.
  6. "M. Faure at havre" (News). The Times. Friday, 19 April, 1895. Issue 34555, col D, pg. 3.
  7. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 6 June, 1901. Issue 36474, col E, pg. 11.

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Sir W. A. Dyke Acland" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 27 November, 1924. Issue 43820, col E, pg. 14.

Service Records