19 Facts About Geoffrey Hornby

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Geoffrey Thomas Phipps Hornby GCB was a Royal Navy officer.

Geoffrey Hornby went on to be Commander-in-Chief, West Africa Squadron, Commander-in-Chief of the Flying Squadron and then Commander-in-Chief, Channel Squadron.

Geoffrey Hornby transferred to the fourth-rate HMS Winchester, flagship of the Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope Station, in August 1842.

Geoffrey Hornby went on to be mate in the sixth-rate HMS Cleopatra, in the West Africa Squadron, and took part on anti-slavery operations.

Geoffrey Hornby was promoted to commander on 12 January 1850 and to captain on 18 December 1852.

Geoffrey Hornby had no patron once the Aberdeen ministry came to power in December 1852 and instead cared for his father's estate at Lordington and played no part in the Crimean War.

Geoffrey Hornby used his powers of diplomacy to facilitate a peaceful handover of the islands to the United States.

Geoffrey Hornby became commanding officer of the first-rate HMS Neptune in the Mediterranean Fleet in February 1861 and then became flag captain to the Commander-in-chief, Channel Squadron in the second rate HMS Edgar in May 1863.

Geoffrey Hornby condemned the independent rulers of West Africa for continuing to supply slaves when all civilised countries except Brazil had abolished slavery.

Geoffrey Hornby went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Channel Squadron, with his flag in the armoured frigate HMS Minotaur, in September 1871 and in that capacity entertained President Ulysses S Grant at Gibraltar.

Geoffrey Hornby became Second Naval Lord under the Second Disraeli ministry in December 1874 and was promoted to vice admiral on 1 January 1875.

Geoffrey Hornby went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet, with his flag in the battleship HMS Alexandra, in January 1877.

Geoffrey Hornby forced his way through the Dardanelles, despite Turkish protests, in a display of British naval power intended to deter Russian aggression during the Russo-Turkish War.

The historian Ben Wilson has said that Geoffrey Hornby was "the exceptional admiral who eased the Navy's transition from sail to steam".

Geoffrey Hornby was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 12 August 1878.

Geoffrey Hornby was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on 19 December 1885, appointed First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to the Queen on 18 January 1886 and promoted to Admiral of the Fleet on 1 May 1888.

Geoffrey Hornby was appointed to the staff of the German emperor Wilhelm II during his visits to England in 1889 and 1890.

Geoffrey Hornby retired in February 1895 and died of influenza at Lordington House on 3 March 1895; his ashes were scattered at Compton Church.

In 1853 Geoffrey Hornby married Emily Frances Coles, with whom he had three sons and two daughters.