Hastings Yelverton
Encyclopedia
Admiral
Sir Hastings Reginald Yelverton, GCB
, born Hastings Reginald Henry (March 1808 – 24 July 1878), was a British naval officer of the 19th century. Yelverton performed with distinction during the Crimean War
and built an excellent reputation as an officer, but ended his career with a brief and ineffective appointment as First Naval Lord
.
, and Lady Emily Elizabeth FitzGerald, daughter of the second duke of Leinster
, Hastings Henry, as he then was, entered the Royal Navy
as a first-class volunteer aboard HMS Sybulle
, under Captain Samuel Pechell
in 1823. While serving aboard Sybille, then in the Mediterranean, Henry was present for a hard-fought engagement with pirates off Candia
in 1826. He subsequently served as a midshipman
and mate aboard Columbine, Undaunted, and St Vincent
, in home waters.
Promoted lieutenant
on 18 December 1830, he went aboard Asia
, flagship of Sir William Parker. Asia was then at Lisbon
, protecting British interests during the Portuguese Civil War
. In 1834, Lieutenant Henry joined Rattlesnake
, under Captain Hobson, on the East Indies
station. He was promoted commander
on 28 June 1838. Henry returned to the home and Mediterranean stations from 1840 and 1843, serving aboard Styx and Devastation and as acting captain of Queen
and Aigle. His promotion to post captain came on 23 September 1843.
, a steam screw frigate, and took part in the Baltic
campaigns. On 19 May 1854, Arrogant and Hecla
cut out a Russian barque
beneath the batteries at Eknas, Finland
. Throughout much on 1855, Yelverton operated independently destroying Russian installations along the Finnish coast, and was created a CB
for his efforts. In 1856, he took command of the battleship Brunswick and a gunboat flotilla for further operations, but the Crimean War ended before he saw service in that command. He went on to Captain of HMS Conqueror
in the Mediterranean
for three years. Yelverton was appointed comptroller
-general of the coastguard on 3 August 1859, and held the post until April 1863.
on 30 January 1863, Yelverton's first assignment was as second-in-command of the Mediterranean station. In 1866, he was appointed commander-in-chief, Channel Fleet
. He was promoted vice-admiral on 25 May 1869, and was one of the committee appointed by Hugh Childers
, then First Lord, to consider the new turret ship design ultimately built as HMS Devastation
. He was created KCB
on 2 June 1869.
Again in command of the Channel Fleet from July to October 1870, he then became Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet
, until January 1874. During this period, he took part in the suppression of the Cartagena
revolt. On 29 May 1875, he was made GCB
.
as First Naval Lord
in September 1876 after Sir Geoffrey Hornby
refused the post. Yelverton and his fellow Lords of the Admiralty implemented economies demanded by the Disraeli ministry
. The unsuccessful Ajax-class battleships
were ordered during this time. Due to failing health, Yelverton resigned in November 1877, and was succeeded by Sir George Wellesley
. Yelverton died at Bath in July 1878.
(d. 1858) on 9 April 1845. Hastings adopted the surname of Yelverton, borne since 1676 by the Barons Grey de Ruthyn, on 3 January 1849. Their only child was born shortly thereafter - Hon. Barbara Yelverton (12 January 1849 – 1 October 1924), who married the second Lord Churston
.
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Sir Hastings Reginald Yelverton, GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, born Hastings Reginald Henry (March 1808 – 24 July 1878), was a British naval officer of the 19th century. Yelverton performed with distinction during the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
and built an excellent reputation as an officer, but ended his career with a brief and ineffective appointment as First Naval Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
.
Early career
Born the son of John Joseph Henry, of StraffanStraffan
Sruthán was mistakenly cited by Thomas O'Connor in the Ordnance Survey Letters in 1837, and adopted as the Irish form of Straffan. Seosamh Laoide used it in his list of Irish names of post-offices published in Post-Sheanchas . An Sruthán gained currency among those involved in the Irish revival...
, and Lady Emily Elizabeth FitzGerald, daughter of the second duke of Leinster
William FitzGerald, 2nd Duke of Leinster
William Robert FitzGerald, 2nd Duke of Leinster, etc. KP, PC was an Irish liberal politician and landowner. He was born in London.-Career:...
, Hastings Henry, as he then was, entered the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as a first-class volunteer aboard HMS Sybulle
French frigate Sibylle (1792)
The Sibylle was an 38-gun Hébé class frigate of the French Navy. She was launched in 1791 at the dockyards in Toulon and placed in service in 1792...
, under Captain Samuel Pechell
Samuel Pechell
Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel John Brooke Pechell, 3rd Baronet CB, KCH, FRS was a prominent British Royal Navy officer of the early nineteenth century...
in 1823. While serving aboard Sybille, then in the Mediterranean, Henry was present for a hard-fought engagement with pirates off Candia
Heraklion
Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....
in 1826. He subsequently served as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
and mate aboard Columbine, Undaunted, and St Vincent
HMS St Vincent (1815)
HMS St Vincent was a 120-gun first rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, laid down in 1810 at Plymouth Dockyard and launched on 11 March 1815 before a crowd that was put at 50,000 spectators.-Service:...
, in home waters.
Promoted lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on 18 December 1830, he went aboard Asia
HMS Asia (1824)
HMS Asia was an 84-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 19 January 1824 at Bombay Dockyard.She was Codrington's flagship at the Battle of Navarino....
, flagship of Sir William Parker. Asia was then at Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, protecting British interests during the Portuguese Civil War
Liberal Wars
The Liberal Wars, also known as the Portuguese Civil War, the War of the Two Brothers, or Miguelite War, was a war between progressive constitutionalists and authoritarian absolutists in Portugal over royal succession that lasted from 1828 to 1834...
. In 1834, Lieutenant Henry joined Rattlesnake
HMS Rattlesnake
Nine ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Rattlesnake, including:, a 10 gun cutter launched 1777. Lost 1782, ex Cormorant of 1781. A 12 gun brig. Sold 1786, a 16-gun sloop in service from 1791, a 28-gun frigate launched in 1822, a torpedo gunboat in service from 1886 to 1910* HMS...
, under Captain Hobson, on the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
station. He was promoted commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
on 28 June 1838. Henry returned to the home and Mediterranean stations from 1840 and 1843, serving aboard Styx and Devastation and as acting captain of Queen
HMS Queen (1839)
HMS Queen was a 110-gun first rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 15 May 1839 at Portsmouth. She was initially ordered in 1827 under the name Royal Frederick, but was renamed on 12 April 1839 while still on the stocks in honour of the recently enthroned Queen Victoria...
and Aigle. His promotion to post captain came on 23 September 1843.
Crimean service
In 1853, Captain Yelverton was given command of ArrogantHMS Arrogant (1848)
HMS Arrogant was a wood screw frigate of the Royal Navy, launched in 1848 and sold in 1867. During the period of 1848–1850 it was commanded by Robert FitzRoy. On 15 April 1854 the Arrogant was one of a number of Royal Navy ships that captured the Russian brig Patrioten. The Arrogant served...
, a steam screw frigate, and took part in the Baltic
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
campaigns. On 19 May 1854, Arrogant and Hecla
HMS Hecla
Seven ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Hecla, after the volcano Hekla in Iceland.* The first Hecla was a 10-gun bomb vessel purchased in 1797...
cut out a Russian barque
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
beneath the batteries at Eknas, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Throughout much on 1855, Yelverton operated independently destroying Russian installations along the Finnish coast, and was created a CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
for his efforts. In 1856, he took command of the battleship Brunswick and a gunboat flotilla for further operations, but the Crimean War ended before he saw service in that command. He went on to Captain of HMS Conqueror
HMS Conqueror (1855)
HMS Conqueror was a a 101-gun Conqueror class screw propelled first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1855, but spent only six years in service before being wrecked on Rum Cay in the Bahamas in 1861....
in the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
for three years. Yelverton was appointed comptroller
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
-general of the coastguard on 3 August 1859, and held the post until April 1863.
Commands as admiral
Promoted rear admiralRear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
on 30 January 1863, Yelverton's first assignment was as second-in-command of the Mediterranean station. In 1866, he was appointed commander-in-chief, Channel Fleet
Channel Fleet
The Channel Fleet was the Royal Navy formation of warships that defended the waters of the English Channel from 1690 to 1909.-History:The Channel Fleet dates back at least to 1690 when its role was to defend England against the French threat under the leadership of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of...
. He was promoted vice-admiral on 25 May 1869, and was one of the committee appointed by Hugh Childers
Hugh Childers
Hugh Culling Eardley Childers was a British and Australian Liberal statesman of the nineteenth century. He is perhaps best known for his reform efforts at the Admiralty and the War Office...
, then First Lord, to consider the new turret ship design ultimately built as HMS Devastation
HMS Devastation (1871)
HMS Devastation was the first of two Devastation-class mastless turret ships built for the British Royal Navy. This was the first class of ocean-going capital ship that did not carry sails, and the first whose entire main armament was mounted on top of the hull rather than inside it...
. He was created KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
on 2 June 1869.
Again in command of the Channel Fleet from July to October 1870, he then became Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
, until January 1874. During this period, he took part in the suppression of the Cartagena
Cartagena, Spain
Cartagena is a Spanish city and a major naval station located in the Region of Murcia, by the Mediterranean coast, south-eastern Spain. As of January 2011, it has a population of 218,210 inhabitants being the Region’s second largest municipality and the country’s 6th non-Province capital...
revolt. On 29 May 1875, he was made GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
.
Admiralty career
The aging Yelverton, by now suffering from deafness, succeeded Sir Alexander MilneSir Alexander Milne, 1st Baronet
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Alexander Milne, 1st Baronet, GCB was a Royal Navy admiral, the second son of the Scot Admiral Sir David Milne, and the younger brother of the advocate, geologist and meteorologist David Milne-Home.-Naval career:He entered the Royal Naval Academy, 8 February 1817...
as First Naval Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
in September 1876 after Sir Geoffrey Hornby
Geoffrey Thomas Phipps Hornby
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Geoffrey Thomas Phipps Hornby GCB , was a British naval officer.-Early life:...
refused the post. Yelverton and his fellow Lords of the Admiralty implemented economies demanded by the Disraeli ministry
First Disraeli ministry
After the parliamentary session which produced the Second Reform Bill, Disraeli's eventual assumption of the leadership of the Conservative Party was all but assured...
. The unsuccessful Ajax-class battleships
Ajax class battleship
The Ajax class of battleships consisted of two ships, and . They were ironclad ships serving in the Victorian Royal Navy, armed with turret-mounted main armament....
were ordered during this time. Due to failing health, Yelverton resigned in November 1877, and was succeeded by Sir George Wellesley
George Wellesley
Admiral Sir George Greville Wellesley GCB was a senior naval officer and First Naval Lord. He was a nephew of the Duke of Wellington.-Naval career:Wellesley joined the Royal Navy in 1828...
. Yelverton died at Bath in July 1878.
Family
He married the widowed Barbara Yelverton, Marchioness of Hastings, suo jure Baroness Grey de RuthynBaron Grey de Ruthyn
The title of Baron Grey de Ruthyn was created in the Peerage of England by writ of summons in 1324 for Roger Grey, a son of John Grey, 2nd Baron Grey of Wilton. It has been abeyant since 1963...
(d. 1858) on 9 April 1845. Hastings adopted the surname of Yelverton, borne since 1676 by the Barons Grey de Ruthyn, on 3 January 1849. Their only child was born shortly thereafter - Hon. Barbara Yelverton (12 January 1849 – 1 October 1924), who married the second Lord Churston
John Yarde-Buller, 2nd Baron Churston
John Yarde-Buller, 2nd Baron Churston was a British peer and soldier.The elder son of the Hon. John Yarde-Buller and of Charlotte, a daughter of Edward S. C...
.