Sir Peter Abbott
Then-Rear Admiral Peter Abbott on board Invincible class aircraft carrier
Born(1942-02-12)12 February 1942
New Delhi, British India
Died28 September 2015(2015-09-28) (aged 73)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1964–2001
RankAdmiral
Commands held
Battles/warsFalklands War
Awards
Other workCommissioner of Commonwealth War Graves

Admiral Sir Peter Charles Abbott GBE, KCB (12 February 1942 – 28 September 2015) was a Royal Navy officer and Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom.

Early life

Abbott was born on 12 February 1942.[1] He was educated at St. Edward's School, Oxford before going on to Queens' College, Cambridge.[2]

Military career

Abbott was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1964.[3] He commanded the minesweeper, HMS Chawton, from 1972 to 1975 and then joined the staff of the Senior Naval Officer in the West Indies.[3]

He became commanding officer of the frigate HMS Ambuscade in 1976, second-in-command of the aircraft carrier HMS Bulwark in 1980 and the Chief of Defence Staff's briefer during the Falklands War in 1982.[3] He then became commanding officer of the frigate HMS Ajax as well as captain of the 1st Frigate Squadron in 1983.[3]

He became Director of Navy Plans in 1985 and, having been promoted to rear admiral, he was appointed Flag Officer, Second Flotilla in 1989.[3] He was made Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff in 1991 and, having been promoted to vice admiral, was appointed Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic in 1993.[3] He became Commander-in-Chief Fleet and, having been promoted to admiral in 1995, he became Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff in 1997.[3]

Later life

In retirement, Abbott was made Chairman of the Trustees of the Royal Naval Museum.[4] He was also President of MSSC, governing charity of the Marine Society and the Sea Cadets.[5]

He died of cancer on 28 September 2015.[6][7]

Honours and decorations

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) 1999[8]
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) 1994[9]
Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States) 1995[10]

References

  1. ^ "Abbott, Adm. Sir Peter (Charles)". Who's who 1998 : an annual biographical dictionary. New York: St. Martin's Press. 1998. ISBN 0312175914.
  2. ^ Queens' College e-bulletin for the 1960 Anniversary Celebration Invitation Dinner Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Admiral Sir Peter Abbott Archived 23 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Debretts
  4. ^ "Royal Naval Museum". Archived from the original on 27 November 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  5. ^ MSSC – Who's who
  6. ^ "Abbott". The Telegraph. London. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Admiral Sir Peter Abbott - obituary". 20 October 2015. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  8. ^ "No. 55354". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1998. p. 5.
  9. ^ "No. 53696". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 June 1994. p. 2.
  10. ^ Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003
Military offices Preceded byHugo White Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff 1991–1993 Succeeded byJohn Brigstocke Preceded bySir Peter Woodhead Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic 1993–1995 Succeeded bySir Ian Garnett Preceded bySir Hugo White Commander-in-Chief Fleet 1995–1997 Succeeded bySir Michael Boyce Preceded bySir John Willis Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff 1997–2001 Succeeded bySir Anthony Bagnall Heraldic offices Preceded bySir Patrick Hine King of Arms of the Order of the British Empire 2011–2015 Succeeded bySir Robert Fulton
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