Pakenham , Sir , William Christopher , 1861-1933 , Knight , Admiral

Pakenham was born in 1861 into a titled and naval family. He entered the navy in 1874 and spent two years training on HMS BRITANNIA. He was promoted to sub-lieutenant in 1880 and lieutenant in 1883. At these ranks he served on ships including HMS ALEXANDRA and a series of cruisers in the Pacific and the Mediterranean, mainly with responsibility for gunnery. He was promoted commander in 1896 and served in naval intelligence for 18 months to August 1901. He became a captain in 1903 and was naval attache in Japan, 1904-1905. While there he spent much of his time on board HMIS ASAHI, including its periods engaged in battle in the Russo-Japanese war. Between 1906-1910 he served in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic and was made Fourth Sea Lord in 1911. He was present at the Battle of Jutland where he commanded a battle cruiser squadron from HMS NEW ZEALAND. In 1916 he was appointed as commander in chief of a battle cruiser force. After World War I he served briefly at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich and then as commander in chief of the North America and West Indies station. His visit to the west coast of the United States on HMS RALEIGH in 1922 was a diplomatic success. He was appointed admiral in that year. He retired in 1926 and died at San Sebastian, Spain in 1933.