Sir

William Martin

Bt
Born(1801-12-05)5 December 1801
Died24 March 1895(1895-03-24) (aged 93)
Winchfield, Hampshire
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1813–1870
RankAdmiral
Commands heldHMS Fly
HMS Samarang
HMS Queen
HMS Trafalgar
HMS Prince Regent
Channel Squadron
Portsmouth Dockyard
Mediterranean Fleet
Plymouth Command
Battles/warsPeruvian War of Independence
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Admiral Sir William Fanshawe Martin, 4th Baronet, GCB (5 December 1801 – 24 March 1895), was a Royal Navy officer. As a commander, he provided valuable support to British merchants at Callao in Peru in the early 1820s during the Peruvian War of Independence.[1] He became First Naval Lord in the Second Derby–Disraeli ministry in March 1858 and in that capacity acted as a strong advocate for the procurement of Britain's first ironclad warship. He went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet and in that role provided important assistance during the Italian disturbances in 1860 and 1861, reformed the system of discipline in his fleet and developed a comprehensive system of manoeuvres for steam ships.

Early career

The first-rate HMS Queen which Martin commanded

Born the eldest son of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Thomas Martin (a former Controller of the Navy) and Catherine Martin (daughter of Captain Robert Fanshawe RN), Martin joined the Royal Navy in June 1813.[1] He had two brothers, one of whom became Admiral Sir Henry Martin.[2] He joined the fifth-rate HMS Alceste on the East Indies Station in January 1816 after which he transferred to the yacht HMS Prince Regent in 1820 and then to the fifth-rate HMS Glasgow in the Mediterranean Fleet.[1] Promoted to lieutenant on 15 December 1820, he joined the fifth-rate HMS Forte and then the fifth-rate HMS Aurora on the South America Station.[1] Promoted to commander on 8 February 1823, he was given command of the sloop HMS Fly on the South America Station and, in her, provided valuable support to British merchants at Callao in Peru during the Peruvian War of Independence.[1]

Promoted to captain on 5 June 1824, Martin took command of the sixth-rate HMS Samarang in the Mediterranean Fleet in November 1826 and then went onto half-pay in 1831.[1] He took command of the first-rate HMS Queen at Sheerness in July 1844 and then the first-rate HMS Trafalgar at Sheerness in January 1845 and finally the first-rate HMS Prince Regent in the Channel Squadron in December 1847.[3] He went on to be commodore commanding the Channel Squadron with his broad pennant in HMS Prince Regent in December 1849.[3]

Senior command

HMS Marlborough, Flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet, which Martin commanded in the early 1860s

Promoted to rear-admiral on 28 May 1853,[4] Martin became Admiral Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard, hoisting his flag in the first-rate HMS St Vincent in November 1853.[3] Promoted to vice-admiral on 13 February 1858,[5] he became First Naval Lord in the Second Derby–Disraeli ministry in March 1858.[3] In that capacity he acted as a strong advocate for the procurement of Britain's first ironclad warship.[1]

Martin went on to become Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet, hoisting his flag in the first-rate HMS Marlborough, in April 1860.[3] In that role he provided important assistance during the Italian disturbances in 1860 and 1861, reformed the system of discipline in his fleet and developed a comprehensive system of manoeuvres for steam ships.[1] Having been appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 28 June 1861[6] and promoted to full admiral on 14 November 1863,[7] he succeeded to the baronetcy on 4 December 1863: this had been conferred on his grandfather, but passed to Martin upon the death of his cousin, Sir Henry, the 3rd Baronet.[8] He went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth in October 1866 and was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on 24 May 1873.[9] He died at his home at Upton Grey near Winchfield on 24 March 1895.[1]

Family

Martin married on 24 July 1826 Honourable Anne Best, daughter of Lord Wynford. Following her death in 1836, Martin married on 21 May 1838 Sophia Elizabeth Hurt, daughter of Richard Hurt.[3] Martin left five daughters and one son:[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Laughton, J. K. (2004). "Martin, Sir William Fanshawe (1801–1895)". In rev. Andrew Lambert (ed.). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/18222. Retrieved 31 December 2012. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ Starkey, p. 140
  3. ^ a b c d e f "William Loney RN". Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  4. ^ "No. 21445". The London Gazette. 3 June 1853. p. 1549.
  5. ^ "No. 22099". The London Gazette. 19 February 1858. p. 849.
  6. ^ "No. 22524". The London Gazette. 28 June 1861. p. 2689.
  7. ^ "No. 22790". The London Gazette. 20 November 1863. p. 5586.
  8. ^ a b Payson, p. 28
  9. ^ "No. 23979". The London Gazette. 24 May 1873. p. 2583.
  10. ^ "Deaths". The Times. No. 36964. London. 30 December 1902. p. 1.

Sources

Further reading

Military offices Preceded bySir Richard Dundas First Naval Lord 1858—1859 Succeeded bySir Richard Dundas Preceded bySir Arthur Fanshawe Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet 1860–1863 Succeeded bySir Robert Smart Preceded bySir Charles Fremantle Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth 1866–1869 Succeeded bySir Henry Codrington Honorary titles Preceded bySir William Hope-Johnstone Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom 1878–1895 VacantTitle next held bySir Edmund Fremantle Baronetage of the United Kingdom Preceded byHenry Martin Baronet (of Lockynge) 1863–1895 Succeeded byRichard Martin
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