Sir George Willes | |
---|---|
Born | 19 June 1823 |
Died | 18 February 1901 London | (aged 77)
Allegiance |
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Service/ |
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Years of service | 1838–1888 |
Rank | Admiral |
Commands held |
HMS Chesapeake HMS Impérieuse HMS Prince Consort China Station Portsmouth Command |
Battles/wars |
Crimean War Second Opium War |
Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
Admiral Sir George Ommanney Willes GCB (19 June 1823 – 18 February 1901) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.
Born at Hythe, Hampshire in 1823, Willes was the son of Captain George Wickens Willes, RN, by his wife Anne Lacon, daughter of Sir Edmund Lacon, Baronet. [1] He was educated at the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, and joined the Royal Navy in 1838. [2]
Willes received his commission as Mate in 1842, and as Lieutenant in 1844, [1] his early career being uneventful until the outbreak of the Crimean War, when he took part in the bombardments of Odessa and of Sevastopol's Konstantin Battery in 1854. [2] In April that year he was promoted Commander, and in May 1856 Captain. [1] He was given command of the frigate HMS Chesapeake in 1859, [3] and of HMS Impérieuse in 1861. In both cases as Flag Captain to the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies. [2] In this capacity he took part in the Battle of the Taku Forts during the Second Opium War. [4]
In 1864 he was made Captain of the ironclad warship HMS Prince Consort. [2]
He became Admiral-Superintendent at Devonport in 1876 and Commander-in-chief, China Station in 1881. [2] His last post was as Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth in 1886. [2] He retired in 1888. [2]
In 1855 he married Georgiana Matilda Josephine, daughter of William Joseph Lockwood and granddaughter of Sir Mark Wood, 1st Baronet. His younger brother was the cricketer Edmund Willes. [2] [5] [6]
Sir George Willes | |
---|---|
Born | 19 June 1823 |
Died | 18 February 1901 London | (aged 77)
Allegiance |
![]() |
Service/ |
![]() |
Years of service | 1838–1888 |
Rank | Admiral |
Commands held |
HMS Chesapeake HMS Impérieuse HMS Prince Consort China Station Portsmouth Command |
Battles/wars |
Crimean War Second Opium War |
Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
Admiral Sir George Ommanney Willes GCB (19 June 1823 – 18 February 1901) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.
Born at Hythe, Hampshire in 1823, Willes was the son of Captain George Wickens Willes, RN, by his wife Anne Lacon, daughter of Sir Edmund Lacon, Baronet. [1] He was educated at the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, and joined the Royal Navy in 1838. [2]
Willes received his commission as Mate in 1842, and as Lieutenant in 1844, [1] his early career being uneventful until the outbreak of the Crimean War, when he took part in the bombardments of Odessa and of Sevastopol's Konstantin Battery in 1854. [2] In April that year he was promoted Commander, and in May 1856 Captain. [1] He was given command of the frigate HMS Chesapeake in 1859, [3] and of HMS Impérieuse in 1861. In both cases as Flag Captain to the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies. [2] In this capacity he took part in the Battle of the Taku Forts during the Second Opium War. [4]
In 1864 he was made Captain of the ironclad warship HMS Prince Consort. [2]
He became Admiral-Superintendent at Devonport in 1876 and Commander-in-chief, China Station in 1881. [2] His last post was as Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth in 1886. [2] He retired in 1888. [2]
In 1855 he married Georgiana Matilda Josephine, daughter of William Joseph Lockwood and granddaughter of Sir Mark Wood, 1st Baronet. His younger brother was the cricketer Edmund Willes. [2] [5] [6]