Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many 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. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

Sir William Fanshawe Martin, 4th Baronet, (5 December 180124 March 1895) was a

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

officer. As a

commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank as well as a job title in many army, armies. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countri ...

, he provided valuable support to British merchants at

Callao Callao () is a Peruvian seaside city and Regions of Peru, region on the Pacific Ocean in the Lima metropolitan area. Callao is Peru's chief seaport and home to its main airport, Jorge Chávez International Airport. Callao municipality consists ...

in Peru in the early 1820s during the

Peruvian War of Independence The Peruvian War of Independence () was a series of military conflicts in Peru from 1809 to 1826 that resulted in the country's independence from the Spanish Empire. Part of the broader Spanish American wars of independence, it led to the dis ...

. He became First Naval Lord in the

Second Derby–Disraeli ministry The Conservative government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland that began in 1858 and ended in 1859 was led by Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby in the House of Lords and Benjamin Disraeli in the House of Commons. History ...

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

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. He had two brothers, one of whom became Admiral Sir Henry Martin. He joined the fifth-rate HMS ''Alceste'' on the

East Indies Station The East Indies Station was a formation and command of the British Royal Navy. Created in 1744 by the Admiralty, it was under the command of the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies. Even in official documents, the term ''East Indies Station'' wa ...

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 The British Mediterranean Fleet, also known as the Mediterranean Station, was a formation of the Royal Navy. The Fleet was one of the most prestigious commands in the navy for the majority of its history, defending the vital sea link between ...

. 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 The South America Station was a formation of the Royal Navy which existed from 1808 to 1838 when it was split into the Pacific Station and the South East Coast of America Station. Following the invasion of Portugal by Napoleon, the Portuguese co ...

. Promoted to

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

in Peru during the

. Promoted to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

on 5 June 1824, Martin took command of the sixth-rate HMS ''Samarang'' in the

in November 1826 and then went onto half-pay in 1831. He took command of the first-rate HMS ''Queen'' at

Sheerness Sheerness () is a port town and civil parish beside the mouth of the River Medway on the north-west corner of the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent, England. With a population of 13,249, it is the second largest town on the island after the nearby ...

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

in December 1847. He went on to be commodore commanding the Channel Squadron with his

broad pennant A broad pennant is a triangular swallow-tailed naval pennant flown from the masthead of a warship afloat or a naval headquarters ashore to indicate the presence of either: (a) a Royal Navy officer in the rank of Commodore, or (b) a U.S. Navy ...

in HMS ''Prince Regent'' in December 1849.

Senior command

Promoted to

rear-admiral Rear admiral is a flag officer rank used by English-speaking navies. In most European navies, the equivalent rank is called counter admiral. Rear admiral is usually immediately senior to commodore and immediately below vice admiral. It is ...

on 28 May 1853, Martin became Admiral Superintendent of

Portsmouth Dockyard His Majesty's Naval Base, Portsmouth (HMNB Portsmouth) is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy (the others being HMNB Clyde and HMNB Devonport). Portsmouth Naval Base is part of the city of Portsmouth; it is loc ...

, hoisting his flag in the first-rate HMS ''St Vincent'' in November 1853. Promoted to

vice-admiral Vice admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, usually equivalent to lieutenant general and air marshal. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral. Australia In the Royal Australian Navy, the rank of vic ...

on 13 February 1858, he became First Naval Lord in the

in March 1858. In that capacity he acted as a strong advocate for the procurement of Britain's first ironclad warship. Martin went on to become Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet, hoisting his flag in the first-rate HMS ''Marlborough'', in April 1860. 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. Having been appointed a

Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by King George I of Great Britain, George I on 18 May 1725. Recipients of the Order are usually senior British Armed Forces, military officers or senior Civil Service ...

on 28 June 1861 and promoted to full

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many 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. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

on 14 November 1863, he succeeded to the

baronet A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14th ...

cy 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.Payson, p. 28 He went on to be

Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth The Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth, was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. Plymouth Command was a name given to the units, establishments, and staff operating under the admiral's command. Between 1845 and 1896, this offi ...

in October 1866 and was advanced to

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by King George I on 18 May 1725. Recipients of the Order are usually senior military officers or senior civil servants, and the monarch awards it on the advice of His ...

on 24 May 1873. He died at his home at Upton Grey near Winchfield on 24 March 1895.

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. Martin left five daughters and one son: *Sir Richard Byam Martin (1841–1910), who succeeded as the 5th Baronet but died without issue when the title became extinct. *Sophia Elizabeth Martin (died 27 Dec 1902) *Caroline Matin *Grace Martin *Harriette Martin *Georgiana Martin

References

Sources

William Loney RN
Career History * * *

Early career

Senior command

Family

References

Sources

Further reading