Thomas MacGill
Admiral Thomas MacGill CB | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Navy |
| Rank | Admiral |
CB (16 August 1850 – 16 April 1926) was a Royal Navy officer who fought in several of the British Empire's "little wars" during the 19th century.[1][2][3]
Life and career
Born at
North American Station.[1]
MacGill specialized in navigation, and was the navigator of the screw sloop
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet. In 1889, he brought back to England HMS Sultan
, which had been shipwrecked and raised in Malta.
Promoted to
Cape and West Africa Station. The same year, he landed from Phoebe in command of the second division of Admiral Harry Rawson's punitive expedition against the Arab chief M'baruk, and was present at the capture of Mwele on 17 August. For his part in the Mwele campaign, he received the East and West Africa Medal with "MWELE 1895" engraved on the rim.[1] He also took part in the punitive Benin Expedition of 1897, and was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath for services during the campaign.[1]
Returning to England, MacGill commanded the second-class protected cruiser
coast guard service at Harwich from 1898 to 1899.[1] He was Naval Captain in Charge, Bermuda Royal Dockyard and Senior Naval Officer there from 1889 to 1902. After commanding the battleship HMS Royal Sovereign from 1902 to 1903, he was Captain Superintendent (later Admiral Superintendent) of Contract Built Ships, Liverpool and Barrow from 1903 to 1906.[1][3] Promoted to rear-admiral in 1904, he retired at his own request in 1906, but served as Admiral Superintendent of Contract Built Ships, Tyne and Southern District from 1906 to 1909.[1][3]
He was promoted to
First World War.[1]
MacGill died at Victoria Cottage East Cowes on 16 April 1926, at the home of his son Lieutenant-Commander MacGill, RN.[1][2] He was buried "very quietly" at Whippingham, Isle of Wright on 20 April.[1][4] King George V, who as Prince George of Wales was a lieutenant in the Alexandra with MacGill, sent his condolences.[4]
MacGill married Maria West, daughter of Thomas West, in 1884; they had at least two sons.[1][4]