Frederick Richards

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other people named Frederick Richards, see Frederick Richards (disambiguation).

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

First Naval Lord and in that role led a huge shipbuilding and naval works programme undertaken in accordance with the provisions of the Naval Defence Act 1889. The programme was opposed by Prime Minister William Gladstone who was concerned about its vast cost and who resigned after a Cabinet defeat over it in March 1894. The programme continued under the Governments of Lord Rosebery and then Lord Salisbury
and Richards remained in office driving the programme throughout the political turmoil.

Early life

Born the second son of Captain Edwin Richards RN, of Solsboro,

China Station during the Second Opium War in February 1860.[1] He was given command of the gunboat HMS Dart in the West Africa Squadron in March 1862.[1]

Posting in Africa

HMS Devastation, the first steam turret battleship without no sail power, which Richards commanded

Promoted to

Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 24 May 1881.[6]

China Station and the Admiralty

The corvette, HMS Bacchante, Richards' flagship as Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Station

After promotion to

naval brigade to support the British advance up the Irrawaddy River in November 1885 during the Third Anglo-Burmese War.[3] On his return to England in June 1888, together with two other admirals, he was asked to investigate the disposition of the ships of the Royal Navy many of which were unarmoured and together incapable of meeting the combined threat from any two of the other naval powers ("the Two-power Standard") and to prepare the report which ultimately led to the Naval Defence Act 1889.[3] He was also a member of a Royal Commission formed to look into Naval and Military administration.[8]

First Naval Lord

Promoted to

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in June 1895.[11]

Richards also had to respond as First Naval Lord to the Far Eastern Crisis of 1897/98 when the Russian Pacific Fleet was threatening to attack the Korean port of Chemulpo to back up Russia’s demands for a peacetime coaling station at Deer Island.[12] He was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet on 29 November 1898[13] and served as First Naval Lord until August 1899 when he retired.[14] He died at his home, Horton Court at Chipping Sodbury in Gloucestershire, on 28 September 1912.[14]

Family

In 1866 Richards married Lucy Fayle, daughter of Fitzherbert Brooke, of Horton Court, Gloucestershire; they had no children.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Heathcote, p. 220
  2. ^ "No. 23068". The London Gazette. 9 February 1866. p. 773.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Heathcote, p. 221
  4. ^ "No. 24743". The London Gazette. 15 July 1879. p. 4472.
  5. ^ "No. 24787". The London Gazette. 28 November 1879. p. 6939.
  6. ^ "No. 24976". The London Gazette. 24 May 1881. p. 2673.
  7. ^ "No. 25117". The London Gazette. 13 June 1882. p. 2741.
  8. ^ "No. 25826". The London Gazette. 12 June 1888. p. 3246.
  9. ^ "No. 25869". The London Gazette. 26 October 1888. p. 5819.
  10. ^ "No. 26438". The London Gazette. 5 September 1893. p. 5057.
  11. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/35736. Retrieved 16 December 2012. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  12. ^ "British Imperial Defence Strategy and Russia: The Role of the Royal Navy in the Far East, 1878–1898" (PDF). Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  13. ^ "No. 27029". The London Gazette. 2 December 1898. p. 7818.
  14. ^ a b Heathcote, p. 222

Sources

  • Heathcote, Tony (2002). The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 – 1995. Pen & Sword Ltd.
    ISBN 0-85052-835-6
    .

External links
Military offices
Preceded by
Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope Station

1879–1882 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Junior Naval Lord
1882–1885 		Succeeded by
Sir William Hewett
Preceded by
Sir William Hewett
 Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station
1885–1888 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Commander-in-Chief, China Station

1890–1892 		Succeeded by
Sir Edmund Fremantle
Preceded by
Second Naval Lord

1892–1893 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
First Naval Lord

1893—1899 		Succeeded by
Lord Walter Kerr
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