SIR

See also:

• WILLIAM
• WILLIAM (1143-1214)
• WILLIAM (1227-1256)
• WILLIAM (1J33-1584)
• WILLIAM (A.S. Wilhelm, O. Norse Vilhidlmr; O. H. Ger. Willahelm, Willahalm, M. H. Ger. Willehelm, Willehalm, Mod.Ger. Wilhelm; Du. Willem; O. Fr. Villalme, Mod. Fr. Guillaume; from " will," Goth. vilja, and " helm," Goth. hilms, Old Norse hidlmr, meaning
• WILLIAM (c. 1130-C. 1190)
• WILLIAM, 13TH

WILLIAM

See also:

• FANSHAWE, SIR RICHARD

FANSHAWE

See also:

• MARTIN (Martinus)
• MARTIN, BON LOUIS HENRI (1810-1883)
• MARTIN, CLAUD (1735-1800)
• MARTIN, FRANCOIS XAVIER (1762-1846)
• MARTIN, HOMER DODGE (1836-1897)
• MARTIN, JOHN (1789-1854)
• MARTIN, LUTHER (1748-1826)
• MARTIN, SIR THEODORE (1816-1909)
• SIR WILLIAM FANSHAWE MARTIN (1801–1895)
• MARTIN, ST (c. 316-400)
• MARTIN, WILLIAM (1767-1810)

MARTIN (1801–1895)  , British admiral, son of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Thomas Byam Martin, comptroller of the navy, and grandson, on the mother's side, of Captain Robert Fanshawe, who commanded the " Namur " 90 in Rodney's victory of the 12th of April 1782, was born on the 5th of December 1801 . Entering the navy at the age of twelve, his father's interest secured his rapid promotion: he was made a lieutenant on the 15th of December 1820; on the 8th of February 1823 he was promoted to be commander of the " Fly " sloop, his good service in which in support of the interests of British merchants at Callao secured his promotion as captain on the 5th of June 1824 . He afterwards served in the Mediterranean and on the home station . In 1849–1852 he was commodore commanding the Channel squadron, and gave evidence of a remarkable aptitude for command . He was made rear-admiral in May 1853, and for the next four years was superintendent of Portsmouth dockyard . He was made vice-admiral in February 1858, and after a year as a lord of the admiralty, was appointed commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean . The discipline of the navy was then bad . It was a tradition sprung from the wholesale shipment of gaol-birds during the old war, that the men were to be treated without consideration; moreover the ships had been largely filled up with " bounty men" bought into the service with a £10 note:without training . Out of this unpromising material Martin formed the fleet which was at that time the ideal of excellence . He had no war service, and, beyond the Italian disturbance of 186o--61, no opportunity for showing diplomatic ability . But his memory lives as that of the reformer of discipline and the originator of a comprehensive system of steam manoeuvres . He became an admiral in November 1863, and on the 4th of December succeeded to the baronetcy which had been conferred on his grandfather .

His last

appointment was the command at Plymouth, 1866–1869, and in 187o he was put on the retired list . In 1873 the G.C.B. was conferred on him, and in 1878 he was made rear-admiral . He died at Upton Grey, near Winchfield, on the 24th of March 1895 . He was twice married, and left, besides daughters, one son, who succeeded to the baronetcy .