Benjamin Bathurst (Royal Navy officer)

Sir Benjamin Bathurst
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Benjamin Bathurst Crown Copyright
Born	27 May 1936 (1936-05-27) (age 75)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1953 - 1995
Rank	Admiral of the Fleet
Commands held	HMS Adriadne HMS Minerva Fleet
Battles/wars	Cold War
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Admiral of the Fleet Sir David Benjamin Bathurst GCB, ADC, DL (born 27 May 1936) is a Royal Navy officer who served as Chief of the Naval Staff and First Sea Lord during the early 1990s. He usually goes by his middle name and is known as Benjamin Bathurst.^[1]

Bathurst is the son of Peter Bathurst and his wife Lady Elizabeth Ann (née Temple-Gore-Langton). His grandfather Benjamin Bathurst, Member of Parliament for Cirencester, was the third son of Allen Bathurst, 6th Earl Bathurst.

Naval career

Educated at Eton College and Britannia Royal Naval College he joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1953.^[2] He soon qualified as an instructor, followed by Senior Pilot and went on to take command of his squadron. He also served as an exchange officer with the Royal Australian Navy and was executive officer on the destroyer HMS Norfolk.^[2]

Promoted Captain in 1974, Bathurst took command of a Leander class frigate, HMS Ariadne.^[2] During his command of Ariadne, he participated in operations in the Mediterranean and around the United Kingdom. He also made a port visit to Flensburg, Germany via the Kiel Canal. Two years later he became Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord at the Ministry of Defence.^[2] In 1978 he took command of HMS Minerva and was Captain 5th Frigate Squadron until 1980.^[2] The following year, Bathurst attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London and was appointed Director of Naval Air Warfare in the Ministry of Defence.^[3]

Bathurst was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1983, serving as Flag Officer Second Flotilla until taking up the appointment of Director General Naval Manpower and Training. Promoted Vice Admiral in 1986, he was appointed Chief of Fleet Support and then, having been promoted to Admiral in 1989, he was made Commander-in-Chief Fleet which also carried the NATO appointment of Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Atlantic (CINCEASTLANT), reporting to SACLANT.^[3]

He became Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in 1991 and two years later became Chief of the Naval Staff and First Sea Lord. Bathurst was promoted Admiral of the Fleet on his retirement in 1995.^[3]

Later career

He was appointed to the office of Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Somerset in 1996 and became Vice Lord Lieutenant in 1999.^[3]

Bathurst is the cousin of the present 8th Earl Bathurst and in distant remainder to this title.

References

1. ^ thePeerage.com - nil and others "Admiral Sir David Benjamin Bathurst usually went by his middle name of Benjamin." cites Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition, 2 volumes (Crans, Switzerland: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 1999), volume 1, page 215. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Heathcote, p.22
3. ^ ^{a b c d} University of Greenwich Biography

Further reading

• The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 - 1995, Heathcote T. A., Pen & Sword Ltd, 2002, ISBN 0-85052-835-6

Military offices
Preceded by Sir Anthony Tippet	Chief of Fleet Support 1986-1989	Succeeded by Sir Jock Slater
Preceded by Sir Julian Oswald	Commander-in-Chief Fleet 1989–1991	Succeeded by Sir Jock Slater
Preceded by Sir Richard Vincent	Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff 1991 – 1993	Succeeded by Sir Jock Slater
Preceded by Sir Julian Oswald	First Sea Lord 1993–1995	Succeeded by Sir Jock Slater

Persondata
Name	Bathurst, Benjamin
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	27 May 1936
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death