Edward Seymour (Royal Navy officer)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order

GCVO, PC (30 April 1840 – 2 March 1929) was a Royal Navy officer. As a junior officer he served in the Black Sea during the Crimean War. He then took part in the sinking of the war-junks, the Battle of Canton and the Battle of Taku Forts during the Second Opium War and then saw action again at the Battle of Cixi during the Taiping Rebellion
.

Seymour went on to be Second-in-Command of the Channel Squadron and then Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves. After that he became

Commander-in-Chief, China Station. During the Boxer Rebellion, he led an expedition of 2,000 sailors and marines from Western and Japanese warships to relieve the besieged diplomatic legations in Peking. The expedition was defeated by Chinese and Boxer forces and had to return to Tianjin
. Although the mission had failed, when Seymour arrived back at Portsmouth he and his men were welcomed by thousands of people lining the beach and pier.

Early career

Born the son of the Reverend Richard Seymour and Frances Seymour (née Smith), Seymour was educated at

China Station in 1857 and took part in the sinking of the war-junks in June 1857, the Battle of Canton in December 1857 and the Battle of Taku Forts in May 1858 during the Second Opium War.[2]

Seymour returned to Portsmouth and joined the steam frigate HMS Mersey after which he attended the training ship HMS Illustrious and then the gunnery school HMS Excellent.[2] Promoted to sub-lieutenant on 4 May 1859, he returned to China and, during the voyage, was awarded the Royal Humane Society medal for an unsuccessful attempt to save a marine who had fallen overboard.[2] Promoted to lieutenant on 11 February 1860, he joined the frigate HMS Chesapeake, flagship of the Commander-in-Chief, China Station, and saw action again at the Battle of Taku Forts in August 1860.[2] He became commanding officer of the paddle steamer HMS Waterman at Canton and then transferred to the paddle sloop HMS Sphynx before joining the frigate HMS Imperieuse, the new flagship of the Commander-in-Chief, China Station, and took part in the Battle of Cixi in September 1862 during the Taiping Rebellion.[2]

Seymour became flag lieutenant to the

West Coast of Africa Station in June 1869.[4] After taking part in operations against African pirates in 1870, he became commanding officer of the despatch vessel HMS Vigilant in the Channel Squadron in January 1872 and then of the despatch vessel HMS Lively later that year, also in the Channel Squadron.[4]

Promoted to

Panjdeh Incident.[4] He went on to be flag captain to the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth in May 1886 and, having been appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 21 June 1887,[6] he became assistant to the Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves in December 1887.[4]

Promoted to

vice-admiral on 9 November 1895,[8] he became Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves later that year.[4] He was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 22 June 1897.[9]

Commander-in-Chief, China Station

The route of Seymour's Expedition is shown on this map

Boxer Rebellion

Seymour became Commander-in-Chief,

China Station, with his flag in the battleship HMS Centurion, on 18 February 1898.[10] In early 1900 the Boxers, a rural mass movement, decided to rid China of Western influence and in June 1900 they advanced on Peking, initiating the Boxer Rebellion. The diplomatic legations in Peking requested military support. On 9 June 1900 Sir Claude MacDonald the British Minister cabled Seymour, reporting that the situation in Beijing "was hourly becoming more serious" and that "troops should be landed and all arrangements made for an advance to Peking at once."[11] In response Seymour assembled a lightly armed force of 2,000 sailors and marines from Western and Japanese warships in Tianjin. The expedition headed for Beijing by train.[12] Seymour's force consisted of 916 British, 455 Germans, 326 Russians, 158 French, 112 Americans, 54 Japanese, 41 Italians, and 26 Austrians.[13]

On the first day the allied force travelled twenty five miles without incident, crossing a bridge at Yancun over the

gingals attacked Seymour twice and killed five Italian sailors who had been acting as pickets. The Americans counted 102 Boxer bodies left on the battlefield at the end of one battle.[14]

On 16 June 1900 there was an allied European and Japanese attack on the

Dagu Forts. As a result of the attack in Dagu, the Chinese government decided to resist Seymour's expedition and kill or expel all foreigners in northern China.[15] So, on 18 June 1900, Seymour's force was suddenly attacked by several thousand well-armed Chinese Imperial soldiers – who had not opposed Seymour's passage a few days earlier. The expedition fought off the attack, reportedly killing hundreds of Chinese at a loss of seven dead and 57 wounded. However, the need to care for the wounded, a shortage of supplies and ammunition, and the likelihood of additional Chinese attacks forced Seymour and his officers to decide on a retreat to Tianjin.[16]

Retreat

Seymour (third from left) with Li Hongzhang, the Qing dynasty's main negotiator during the Boxer Rebellion, 1900
Seymour's battered force arrives back in Tianjin

Seymour turned his trains around and headed back toward Tianjin. But, he found the bridge across the Hai River he had crossed a few days before now destroyed by the Boxers or the Chinese army. The sailors, perhaps more comfortable near water, chose to follow the river – although the railroad route was shorter and ran through open country. Along the heavily populated river banks were Boxer-infested villages every one-half mile.[17] Seymour's retreat down the Hai River was slow and difficult, covering only three miles the first day. Additional casualties included John Jellicoe who suffered a near fatal wound.[18] By 22 June 1900, the allies were out of food and down to less than 10 rounds of ammunition per man – except for the Americans who had brought ample ammunition. But, "there was no thought of surrender," said Lieutenant Wurtzbaugh. "The intention was to fight to the last with the bayonet."[19] On 23 June 1900, six miles from Tianjin, Seymour came across the Xigu fort and arsenal which inexplicably was nearly undefended by Chinese soldiers. The foreign sailors and marines took refuge in the arsenal which contained a wealth of arms and ammunition and some food. Realizing its mistake in leaving the arsenal undefended, the Chinese army attempted to dislodge Seymour, now well-armed, but were unsuccessful.[20]

A Chinese servant of the British slipped through to Tianjin and requested rescue for Seymour. Two thousand allied soldiers marched out of the city to the arsenal on 25 June 1900 and the next day escorted Seymour's men back to Tianjin. The Chinese did not oppose their passage. A missionary reported their arrival in Tianjin. "I shall never forget to my dying day, the long string of dusty travel-worn soldiers, who for a fortnight had been living on quarter rations, and fighting every day…the men were met by kind ladies with pails of tea which the poor fellows drunk as they had never drunk before – some bursting into tears."[21] Seymour's casualties were 62 dead and 232 wounded.[22]

Later career

Promoted to full

Lords of the Admiralty to his flagship.[25] He had been advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) on 9 November 1900;[26] in late September 1901 he was received in a personal audience by King Edward VII, who presented him with the insignia of the order.[27] He was also awarded the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle, First class, with the crossed swords in April 1902.[28]

In May 1902, he was part of a delegation led by the

Crosses of Naval Merit.[29]

Seymour was among the original recipients of the Order of Merit (OM) in the 1902 Coronation Honours list published on 26 June 1902,[30] and received the order from King Edward VII at Buckingham Palace on 8 August 1902.[31][32] He was also appointed First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King on 3 October 1902.[33]

Promoted to

Privy Council.[37] He retired from the Navy in April 1910[38] and died at his home in Maidenhead on 2 March 1929.[36]

Family

Seymour neither married nor had any children.[1]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/36032. Retrieved 23 December 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Heathcote, p. 227
  3. ^ "No. 23080". The London Gazette. 6 March 1866. p. 1647.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Heathcote, p. 228
  5. ^ "No. 23948". The London Gazette. 14 February 1873. p. 637.
  6. ^ "No. 25773". The London Gazette. 5 January 1888. p. 213.
  7. ^ "No. 25955". The London Gazette. 19 July 1889. p. 3895.
  8. ^ "No. 26679". The London Gazette. 12 November 1895. p. 6099.
  9. ^ "No. 26947". The London Gazette. 14 March 1898. p. 1682.
  10. ^ Navy List March 1901, corrected to 18 February 1901, page 217
  11. ^ Fleming, p. 72
  12. ^ Leonhard, Robert. "The China Relief Expedition" (PDF). p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  13. ^ Davids, p. 102
  14. ^ Thompson, p. 61
  15. ^ Davids, p. 83; Fleming, p. 103
  16. ^ Davids, p. 107; Bacon, p. 108
  17. ^ Thompson, p. 103
  18. ^ Bacon, 109–111
  19. ^ Wurtzbaugh, p. 215
  20. ^ Bigham, p. 187
  21. ^ Bacon, p. 116
  22. ^ Fleming, p. 89
  23. ^ "No. 27318". The London Gazette. 28 May 1901. p. 3637.
  24. ^ "Admiral Seymour´s return". The Times. No. 36538. London. 20 August 1901. p. 4.
  25. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36540. London. 22 August 1901. p. 4.
  26. ^ "No. 27245". The London Gazette. 9 November 1901. p. 6853.
  27. ^ "Court circular". The Times. No. 36572. London. 28 September 1901. p. 9.
  28. ^ "Court News". The Times. No. 36738. London. 10 April 1902. p. 4.
  29. ^ "The King of Spain´s enthronement". The Times. No. 36769. London. 16 May 1902. p. 5.
  30. ^ "The Coronation Honours". The Times. No. 36804. London. 26 June 1902. p. 5.
  31. ^ "Court Circular". The Times. No. 36842. London. 9 August 1902. p. 6.
  32. ^ "No. 27470". The London Gazette. 2 September 1902. p. 5679.
  33. ^ "No. 27483". The London Gazette. 17 October 1902. p. 6569.
  34. ^ "No. 27766". The London Gazette. 21 February 1905. p. 1279.
  35. ^ "No. 27913". The London Gazette. 15 May 1906. p. 3326.
  36. ^ a b Heathcote, p. 229
  37. ^ "No. 28311". The London Gazette. 23 November 1909. p. 8661.
  38. ^ "No. 28362". The London Gazette. 3 May 1910. p. 3063.

Sources

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Edward Hobart Seymour.
Military offices
Preceded by
Commander-in-Chief, China Station

1897–1901 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
new post
 Military Commissioner of
Weihaiwei

1898–1899 		Succeeded by
Arthur Robert Ford Dorward
Honorary titles
Preceded by First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp
1902–1903 		Succeeded by
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