Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

Sir John Kennedy Erskine Baird, KCB was an officer in the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

, who is chiefly remembered for commanding the losing side in the 1888 annual naval manoeuvres.

Early life

Baird was born on 16 September 1832, the fourth son of Sir David Baird, 2nd Baronet (see

Baird baronets There have been four baronetcies created for persons with the surname Baird, two in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia and two in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. Overview The first Baird Baronetcy of Newbyth in the County of Haddington, w ...

)Sir John Baird at William Loney RN
/ref> and Lady Anne Baird (née Kennedy).

Naval career

Baird entered the Navy in December 1845. He was promoted to lieutenant on 28 February 1854. On 3 July 1857 he was promoted to commander. In 1858, he commanded the paddle-sloop ''Devastation'' on the North America and West Indies station. From 23 December 1859 to August 1863 he commanded the screw gun-vessel ''Alacrity'' in the Mediterranean. Baird was promoted captain on 16 February 1864.''The Navy List, July 1885, corrected to 20 June 1885'', page 71. From 8 March 1870 he commanded the screw-corvette ''Juno'' on the China station until she paid off at Sheerness on 14 June 1873. He commanded the ironclad battleship ''Swiftsure'' from 1874 to 1877 on the Mediterranean station. Baird was Naval aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria from February to December 1878. Baird was promoted to rear-admiral on 28 December 1879. Baird was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station on 13 September 1884, and assumed command on 3 November 1884. His flagship was first ''Swiftsure'', and then her sister ''Triumph''. His flag-lieutenant was Frank A Garforth and his secretary was Henry P. Brenan.''The Navy List, July 1885, corrected to 20 June 1885'', page 188. His replacement was appointed on 4 July 1885. As of June 1885, his command consisted of: ''Constance'', ''Heroine'', ''Liffey'', ''Pelican'', ''Sappho'', ''Satellite'', ''Triumph'', and ''Wild Swan''. Baird was promoted to vice-admiral on 18 January 1886. From 1886 to 1887, he was

Admiral Superintendent, Naval Reserves N, or n, is the fourteenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''en'' (pronounced ), plural ''ens''. History ...

with his flag in the ironclad battleship ''Hercules''. From 17 April 1888 to 3 May 1890, Baird was commander-in-chief of the

Channel Squadron Channel, channels, channeling, etc., may refer to: Geography * Channel (geography), in physical geography, a landform consisting of the outline (banks) of the path of a narrow body of water. Australia * Channel Country, region of outback Austral ...

, with his flag in the ironclad battleship ''Northumberland''. It was during this time that he commanded the losing side in the 1888 annual manoeuvres. In these manoeuvres, Baird's force of 26 major warships and 12 first class torpedo boats represented the British fleet, and England, Scotland and Wales were considered friendly to the British fleet and hostile to the enemy. Opposing Baird was the 'Achill' fleet of 19 major warships and 12 first class torpedo boats, led by Rear Admiral George Tryon, and based in

Berehaven Castletownbere () is a town in County Cork in Ireland. It is located on the Beara Peninsula by Berehaven Harbour. It is also known as Castletown Berehaven. A regionally important fishing port, the town also serves as a commercial and retail hub ...

on the south-west coast of Ireland and

Lough Swilly Lough Swilly () in Ireland is a glacial fjord or sea inlet lying between the western side of the Inishowen, Inishowen Peninsula and the Fanad Peninsula, in County Donegal. Along with Carlingford Lough and Killary Harbour it is one of three glaci ...

on the north coast. All Irish territory was considered hostile to the British fleet and friendly to the enemy. Hostilities broke out at noon on 24 July, and ended at noon on 20 August. At the outset Baird's fleet was concentrated on keeping Tryon's fleet shut up in their base ports. They failed. Both Tryon and his second in command broke the blockade on 4 August, and swooping round the extremities of Ireland, made a descent on British commerce and British ports. Baird was promoted to admiral on 14 February 1892.

Retirement and death

Baird retired an admiral on 16 September 1897. On 6 March 1905 he married Constance Barbara Clarke, daughter of Edward Clarke, of Avishays, Chard, Somerset. He died at Wootton, on the

Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight ( ) is a county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the largest and second-most populous island of England. Referred to as 'The Island' by residents, the Isle of ...

on 8 December 1908. He had no children. His widow remarried in 1925, and died in 1931.Constance Barbara Clarke (d. 3 November 1931) & Admiral Sir John Erskine Kennedy Baird (b. 16 September 1833, d. 8 December 1908)
/ref>

Footnotes

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Baird, John 1832 births 1908 deaths Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath Royal Navy admirals Younger sons of baronets