17 Facts About Frederick Richards

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick William Richards, was a Royal Navy officer.

Frederick Richards took part in the Battle of Laing's Nek in January 1881 during the First Boer War and, as Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Station, he organized and equipped a naval brigade to support the British advance up the Irrawaddy River in November 1885 during the Third Anglo-Burmese War.

Frederick Richards went on to be First Naval Lord and in that role led a huge shipbuilding and naval works programme undertaken in accordance with the provisions of the Naval Defence Act 1889.

The programme continued under the Governments of Lord Rosebery and then Lord Salisbury and Richards remained in office driving the programme throughout the political turmoil.

Frederick Richards was promoted to acting mate in the sloop HMS Fantome on the Australia Station on 8 January 1854.

Frederick Richards became flag-lieutenant to the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station in April 1859 and was given command of the paddle-sloop HMS Vixen on the China Station during the Second Opium War in February 1860.

Frederick Richards took the Devastation to join the Mediterranean Fleet in 1874 and became Commodore and senior officer on the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station with his broad pendant in the corvette HMS Boadicea in October 1878.

Frederick Richards was appointed Naval Aide-de-Camp to the Queen on 15 June 1879 and a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 27 November 1879.

Frederick Richards took part in the Battle of Laing's Nek in January 1881 during the First Boer War and was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 24 May 1881.

Frederick Richards was a member of a Royal Commission formed to look into Naval and Military administration.

Frederick Richards was promoted to full admiral on 1 September 1893 and became First Naval Lord in November 1893.

In that role Frederick Richards led a huge shipbuilding and naval works programme undertaken in accordance with the provisions of the Naval Defence Act 1889.

The programme continued under the Government of Lord Rosebery and then under the Government of Lord Salisbury and Frederick Richards remained in office driving the programme throughout the political turmoil.

Frederick Richards was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in June 1895.

Frederick Richards was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet on 29 November 1898 and served as First Naval Lord until August 1899 when he retired.

Frederick Richards died at his home, Horton Court at Chipping Sodbury in Gloucestershire, on 28 September 1912.

In 1866 Frederick Richards married Lucy Fayle, daughter of Fitzherbert Brooke, of Horton Court, Gloucestershire; they had no children.