Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)

Template:Short description {{#invoke:Hatnote|hatnote}} Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox military rank

Admiral of the Fleet (ADMF) is a five-star naval officer rank and the highest rank of the Royal Navy, formally established in 1688.<ref name="nmrn-portsmouth1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The five-star NATO rank code is OF-10, equivalent to a field marshal in the British Army or a marshal of the Royal Air Force. Apart from honorary appointments, no new admirals of the fleet have been named since 1995, and no honorary appointments have been made since 2014.

History

File:HM King George VI greeting the Flag Officers of the Home Fleet on board the flagship HMS DUKE OF YORK at Scapa Flow, 16 August 1943. A18577.jpg

King George VI and Admiral Bruce Fraser aboard Template:HMS at Scapa Flow, August 1943

The origins of the rank can be traced back to John de Beauchamp, 1st Baron Beauchamp de Warwick, who was appointed 'Admiral of the King's Southern, Northern and Western Fleets' on 18 July 1360.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The appointment gave the command of the English navy to one person for the first time; this evolved into the post of admiral of the fleet.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the days of sailing ships the admiral distinctions then used by the Royal Navy included distinctions related to the fleet being divided into three divisions – red, white, or blue. Each division was assigned at least one admiral, who in turn commanded a number of vice-admirals and rear admirals. While the full admirals were nominally equals, tradition gave precedence to the admiral of the white who held the fleet rank in addition to his substantive role.<ref name="nmrn-portsmouth1"/>

Eighteenth and nineteenth centuries

The Restoration era brought a general reorganisation of naval ranks and structure, including formalisation of the admiral of the fleet role. In a break with tradition the rank was awarded to the most senior admiral of the red, who retained this substantive rank while also serving as admiral of the Fleet. Appointments were for life, remunerated via a £5 daily stipend and an annual allowance of £1,014 for the hiring and maintenance of servants. It was intended that only one officer would hold the rank at any time, with their presence aboard any naval vessel to be denoted by the flying of the Royal Standard from the main mast.<ref name=Kemp>Template:Cite book</ref>

The ranks of admiral of the Fleet and admiral of the red were formally separated from 1805, with an announcement in the London Gazette that "His Majesty [has] been pleased to order the Rank of Admirals of the Red to be restored" in His Majesty's Navy..." as a separate role. The same Gazette promoted 22 men to that rank.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> From the nineteenth century onward there were also occasional variations to the previous requirement that only one admiral of Fleet could serve at one time. In 1821 George IV appointed Sir John Jervis as a second admiral of the fleet, to balance the Duke of WellingtonTemplate:'s promotion as a second Field Marshal in the British Army. In 1830 King William IV increased the number of admirals of the fleet to three, though these additional lifetime postings subsequently lapsed. Between 1854 and 1857 there was no admiral of the fleet at all as the most senior naval officer of the time Template:Ndash Admiral of the Red Thomas Le Marchant Gosselin Template:Ndash was mentally ill and had not served at sea for forty-five years.<ref>Template:Cite wikisource</ref><ref>Template:Cite DNB</ref> In deference to Gosselin's seniority the position was instead left vacant until his death in 1857, whereupon it was filled by Admiral Charles Ogle.<ref name=Kemp/>

Twentieth century

The organisation of the British fleet into coloured squadrons was abandoned in 1864, though the rank of admiral of the fleet was maintained. The title of First Naval Lord was renamed First Sea Lord in 1904.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

During the two World Wars a number of serving officers held active commissions as admirals of the fleet, as well as the First Sea LordTemplate:Mdashe.g. Sir John Tovey.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was created an admiral of the Fleet in the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1954, following the coronation of his wife Elizabeth II as Queen. This promotion was to a New Zealand rank, separate from the Royal Navy rank.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Following the creation of the Chief of the Defence Staff in 1959, the five naval officers appointed to that position became admirals of the fleet. Recognizing the reduced post–Cold War size of the British Armed Forces, no further appointments were made to the rank after 1995 when Sir Benjamin Bathurst was appointed admiral of the fleet on his retirement as First Sea Lord. The rank was not abolished and in 2012 the Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) became an honorary admiral of the fleet (as well as field marshal and marshal of the Royal Air Force), in recognition of his support to Queen Elizabeth II in her role of as Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces. In 2014, Lord Boyce, a former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Defence Staff, was also appointed an honorary admiral of the fleet.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Admirals of the Fleet

Appointed	Image	Name	Born	Died	Notes	Reference
Template:Dts	File:George Legge, 1st Baron Dartmouth by John Riley.jpg	Template:Sortname (later The Lord Dartmouth)	1647	1691		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Gibson, Edward Russell.jpg	Template:Sortname (later The Earl of Orford)	1652	1727		<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>
Template:Dts	File:George Rooke2.jpg	Template:Sortname	1650	1709	circa	<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Sir Cloudesley Shovell, 1650-1707.jpg	Template:Sortname	1650	1707		<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>
Template:Dts	File:John Leake by Godfrey Kneller.jpg	Leake JohnSir John Leake	1656	1720		<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Stafford Fairborne.jpg	Fairborne StaffordSir Stafford Fairborne	1666	1742	circa	<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>
Template:Dts	File:MatthewAylmer.jpg	Aylmer MatthewSir Matthew Aylmer (later The Lord Aylmer)	1650	1720		<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>
Template:Dts	File:George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington by Jeremiah Davison.jpg	Byng GeorgeSir George Byng (later The Viscount Torrington)	1663	1733		<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Admiral Sir John Norris, cirka 1735.jpg	Norris JohnSir John Norris	1670	1749		<ref>Heathcote, p. 197.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Chaloner Ogle.JPG	Ogle ChallonerSir Chaloner Ogle	1681	1750		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:No image.svg	Steuart JamesJames Steuart	1690	1757		<ref>Heathcote p. 236.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:No image.svg	Clinton GeorgeGeorge Clinton	1686	1761		<ref>Heathcote, p. 45.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:1stLordAnson.jpg	AnsonThe Lord Anson	1697	1762		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Williamrowley.jpg	Rowley WilliamSir William Rowley	1690	1768	circa	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Edward Hawke 1.jpg	Hawke EdwardSir Edward Hawke (later The Lord Hawke)	1705	1781		<ref>Heathcote, p. 109.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:John Forbes portrait.jpg	Luke O'KeefeJohn Forbes	1714	1796		<ref>Heathcote, p. 87.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Admiral of the Fleet Howe 1726-99 1st Earl Howe by John Singleton Copley.jpg	HoweThe Earl Howe	1726	1799		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Sir peter parker NMM.JPG	Parker PeterSir Peter Parker, Bt.	1721	1811		<ref>Heathcote, p. 271.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:William IV in 1833 by Shee cropped.jpg	Clarence and Saint AndrewsKing William IV	1765	1837	Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom 1827–1828 appointed at that time as The Duke of Clarence and St Andrews	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:John Jervis, Earl of St Vincent by Francis Cotes.jpg	Saint VincentThe Earl of St Vincent	1735	1823	acting from May 1814	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Captain William Peere Williams.jpg	Williams-Freeman WilliamWilliam Williams-Freeman	1742	1832		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier by Joseph Slater.jpg	GambierThe Lord Gambier	1756	1833		<ref name="ReferenceB">Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Captain Charles Morice Pole, by John Francis Rigaud.jpg	Pole CharlesSir Charles Pole, Bt.	1757	1830		<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
Template:Dts	File:Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Edmund Nugent.JPG	Nugent CharlesSir Charles Nugent	1759	1844		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:HawkinsWhitshed.jpg	Hawkins-Whitshed JamesSir James Hawkins-Whitshed	1762	1849		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Admiral Sir George Martin.jpg	Martin GeorgeSir George Martin	1764	1847		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Thomas Mackay - Portrait of Sir Thomas Byam Martin (1773-1854).jpg	Martin ThomasSir Thomas Byam Martin	1773	1854		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Sir George Cockburn.jpg	Cockburn GeorgeSir George Cockburn (later the Cockburn Baronet)	1772	1853		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, Bart - Amiral sir Charles Ogle, Bart.jpg	Ogle CharlesSir Charles Ogle, Bt.	1775	1858		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Admiral of the Fleet Sir John West.JPG	West JohnSir John West	1774	1862		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:No image.svg	Gage WilliamSir William Gage	1777	1864		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:No image.svg	Hamond GrahamSir Graham Hamond, Bt.	1779	1862		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:FrancisAusten.jpg	Austen FrancisSir Francis Austen	1774	1865		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Sir William Parker.jpg	Parker WilliamSir William Parker, Bt.	1781	1866		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:No image.svg	Curtis LuciusSir Lucius Curtis	1786	1869		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Thomas-john-cochrane.jpg	Cochrane ThomasSir Thomas Cochrane	1789	1872		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:George Francis Seymour.jpg	Seymour GeorgeSir George Seymour	1787	1870		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Rear Admiral James Alexander Gordon.jpg	Gordon JamesSir James Gordon	1782	1869	On the Reserved List	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Admiral of the Fleet Sir William Bowles.JPG	Bowles WilliamSir William Bowles	1780	1869		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Conde de Penha Firme.JPG	Sartorious GeorgeSir George Sartorius	1790	1885		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Sir Fairfax Moresby.jpg	Moresby FairfaxSir Fairfax Moresby	1786	1877		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Admiral of the Fleet Sir Houston Stewart.JPG	Stewart HoustonSir Houston Stewart	1791	1875		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Provo Wallis.jpg	Wallis ProvoSir Provo Wallis	1791	1892		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Rear-Admiral Henry John Codrington (1808-1877), by Cato Lowes Dickinson.jpg	Codrington HenrySir Henry Codrington	1808	1877		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Keppel.jpg	Keppel HenrySir Henry Keppel	1809	1904		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Thomas Maitland, 11th Earl of Lauderdale - Chusan conference 1840 (cropped).jpg	LauderdaleThe Earl of Lauderdale	1803	1878		<ref name="ReferenceC">Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Rodney Mundy.JPG	Mundy RodneySir Rodney Mundy	1805	1884		<ref name="ReferenceC"/>
Template:Dts	File:Rear Admiral Sir James Hope (1808–1881).jpg	Hope JamesSir James Hope	1808	1881		<ref name="ReferenceA">Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:No image.svg	Symonds ThomasSir Thomas Symonds	1813	1894		<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
Template:Dts	File:Admiral Alexander Milne (1808-1896), by Walter William Ouless.jpg	Milne AlexanderSir Alexander Milne, Bt.	1806	1896	On the Retired List	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:No image.svg	Elliot CharlesSir Charles Elliot	1818	1895		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Ryderpic.jpg	Ryder AlfredSir Alfred Ryder	1820	1888		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Edward VII in coronation robes.jpg	WalesKing Edward VII	1841	1910	Honorary appointment to non-Navy royalty and at that time The Prince of Wales	<ref>Heathcote, p. 68.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Geoffrey Phipps Hornby.jpg	Hornby GeoffreySir Geoffrey Hornby	1825	1895		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Lordjohnhay.jpg	Hay JohnLord John Hay	1827	1916	First Naval Lord 1886	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Rudolf Wimmer - Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany, 1891.jpg	William IIEmperor William II	1859	1941	Honorary, to foreign royalty	<ref>Heathcote, p. 261.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:VCJohnEdmundCommerell.jpg	Commerell JohnSir John Commerell	1829	1901		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Alfred-sachsen-coburg-gotha.jpg	EdinburghThe Duke of Edinburgh (later The Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha)	1844	1900		<ref>Heathcote, p. 10.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Richard Meade, 4th Earl of Clanwilliam.jpg	ClanwilliamThe Earl of Clanwilliam	1832	1907		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Algernon McLennan Lyons.JPG	Lyons AlgernonSir Algernon Lyons	1833	1908		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Admiral Frederick Richards, by Arthur Stockdale Cope.jpg	Richards FrederickSir Frederick Richards	1833	1912	First Naval Lord 1893–1899	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Nowell Salmon VC.JPG	Salmon NowellSir Nowell Salmon	1835	1912		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:James Elphinstone Erskine.jpg	Erskine JamesSir James Erskine	1838	1911		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Charles Frederick Hotham.jpg	Hotham CharlesSir Charles Hotham	1843	1925		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:LordWalterKerr.jpg	Kerr WalterLord Walter Kerr	1839	1927	First Sea Lord 1899–1904	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Sir Edward H. Seymour 2.jpg	Seymour EdwardSir Edward Seymour	1840	1929		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Adm. John Fisher.jpg	Fisher JohnSir John Fisher (later The Lord Fisher)	1841	1920	First Sea Lord 1905–1910 and 1914–1915	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Awilson.gif	Wilson ArthurSir Arthur Wilson	1842	1921	First Sea Lord 1910–1911	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Nicolas II de russie.jpg	Nicholas IITsar Nicholas II of Russia	1868	1918	Honorary, to foreign royalty	<ref>Heathcote, p. 192.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Gerard Noel.png	Noel GerardSir Gerard Noel	1845	1918		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Prinz Heinrich - as GrADM with baton - LC-B2- 2992-2(2).tiff	Heinrich of PrussiaPrince Henry of Prussia	1862	1929	Honorary, to foreign royalty	<ref>Heathcote, p. 113.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Adm. Sir A. Fanshawe (LOC).jpg	Fanshawe ArthurSir Arthur Fanshawe	1847	1936		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:King George V 1911 color-crop.jpg George V	King George V	1865	1936		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Portrait of William May.jpg	May WilliamSir William May	1849	1930		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Hedworth Meux 1915.jpg	Meux HedworthSir Hedworth Meux	1856	1929		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:George Callaghan - Project Gutenberg eText 18334.jpg	Callaghan GeorgeSir George Callaghan	1852	1920		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:John Jellicoe, Admiral of the Fleet.jpg	JellicoeThe Viscount Jellicoe (later The Earl Jellicoe)	1859	1935	First Sea Lord 1916–1918	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty.jpg	Beatty DavidSir David Beatty (later The Earl Beatty)	1871	1936	First Sea Lord 1919–1927	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Gws jackson 01.jpg	Jackson HenrySir Henry Jackson	1855	1929	First Sea Lord 1915–1916	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Rosslyn Erskine Wemyss, Baron Wester Wemyss by Sir William Orpen.jpg	Wemyss RosslynSir Rosslyn Wemyss (later The Lord Wester Wemyss)	1864	1933	First Sea Lord 1918–1919	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Vice Admiral Cecil Burney (7307714298).jpg	Burney CecilSir Cecil Burney (later the Burney baronet)	1858	1929		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Frederick Doveton Sturdee.jpg	Sturdee DovetonSir Doveton Sturdee, Bt.	1859	1925		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:LudwigBattenberg.jpg	Milford HavenThe Marquess of Milford Haven	1854	1921	First Sea Lord 1912–1914. On the Retired List	<ref>Order in Council of 19 August 1921; ADM 196/38.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Charles Madden.jpg	Madden CharlesSir Charles Madden, Bt.	1862	1935	First Sea Lord 1927–1930	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Admiral Sir Somerset Gough-Calthorpe (1922).jpg	Calthorpe SomersetSir Somerset Gough-Calthorpe	1864	1937		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:John Michael de Robeck.jpg	de Robeck JohnSir John de Robeck, Bt.	1862	1928		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Vice-admiral Sir Henry Francis Oliver, Kcb, Mvo Art.IWMART1763.jpg	Oliver HenrySir Henry Oliver	1865	1965		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Rear-admiral Osmond de Beauvoir Brock Cb Cmg Art.IWMART1722.jpg	Brock OsmondSir Osmond Brock	1869	1947		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Sir Roger Keyes.jpg	Keyes RogerSir Roger Keyes, Bt. (later The Lord Keyes)	1872	1945		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Frederick Field (Royal Navy officer).jpg	Field FrederickSir Frederick Field	1871	1945	First Sea Lord 1930–1933	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:ReginaldTyrwhittportraitbyDodd.jpg	Tyrwhitt ReginaldSir Reginald Tyrwhitt, Bt.	1870	1951		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Echatfield.jpg	Chatfield ErnleSir Ernle Chatfield (later The Lord Chatfield)	1873	1967	First Sea Lord 1933–1938	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Edward Prince of Wales during his visit to Canada in 1919.jpg	Edward VIIIKing Edward VIII	1894	1972		<ref>Heathcote, p. 69.</ref>
Template:Dts		Kelly JohnSir John Kelly	1871	1936		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Georg VI England.jpg	George VIKing George VI	1895	1952		<ref>Heathcote, p. 99.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:William Boyle.jpg	CorkThe Earl of Cork and Orrery	1873	1967		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Rbackhouse.jpg	Backhouse RogerSir Roger Backhouse	1878	1939	First Sea Lord 1938–1939. On the Retired List	Order in Council of 3 July 1939
Template:Dts	File:SirDudleyPound.jpg	Pound DudleySir Dudley Pound	1877	1943	First Sea Lord 1939–1943	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Charlesforbes1.JPG	Forbes CharlesSir Charles Forbes	1880	1960		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Andrew Cunningham.jpg	Cunningham AndrewSir Andrew Cunningham (later The Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope)	1883	1963	First Sea Lord 1943–1946	<ref>Heathcote, p. 60.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Tovey-TR 002931.jpg	Tovey JohnSir John Tovey (later The Lord Tovey)	1885	1971		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:INF3-77 pt8 Admiral Sir James Somerville.jpg	Somerville JohnSir James Somerville	1882	1949		<ref>Heathcote, p. 233.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:INF3-76 pt3 Admiral Sir John Cunningham Artist Tim.jpg	Cunningham JohnSir John Cunningham	1885	1965	First Sea Lord 1946–1948	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:BruceFraser.JPG	Fraser of North CapeThe Lord Fraser of North Cape	1888	1981	First Sea Lord 1948–1951	<ref>Heathcote, p. 90.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Admiral Sir Algernon Willis (1889–1976).jpg	Willis AlgernonSir Algernon Willis	1889	1976		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Sir Arthur John Power, 9 December 1944 IWM A 26998.jpg	Power ArthurSir Arthur Power	1889	1960		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Philip Louis Vian.png	Vian PhilipSir Philip Vian	1894	1968		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Prince Phillip of Edinburgh.jpg	EdinburghThe Duke of Edinburgh	1921	2021	Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom 2011–2021	<ref>Heathcote, p. 210.</ref><ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Admiral Jerauld Wright and Admiral of the Fleet Sir Rhoderick McGrigor (cropped).jpg	McGrigor RhoderickSir Rhoderick McGrigor	1893	1959	First Sea Lord 1951–1955	<ref>Heathcote, p. 162.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Rear Admiral George Creasy TR2627.jpg	Creasy GeorgeSir George Creasy	1895	1972		<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Lord Mountbatten Naval in colour Allan Warren.jpg	Mountbatten of BurmaThe Earl Mountbatten of Burma	1900	1979	First Sea Lord 1955–1959 Chief of the Defence Staff 1959–1965	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts		Lambe CharlesSir Charles Lambe	1900	1960	First Sea Lord 1959–1960	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts		John CasparSir Caspar John	1903	1984	First Sea Lord 1960–1963	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts		Begg VarylSir Varyl Begg	1908	1995	First Sea Lord 1966–1968	<ref>Heathcote, p. 29.</ref>
Template:Dts		Le Fanu MichaelSir Michael Le Fanu	1913	1970	First Sea Lord 1968–1970	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Peter Hill-Norton (cropped).jpg	Hill-Norton PeterSir Peter Hill-Norton (later The Lord Hill-Norton)	1915	2004	First Sea Lord 1970–1971 Chief of the Defence Staff 1971–1973	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Michael Pollock.jpg	Pollock MichaelSir Michael Pollock	1916	2006	First Sea Lord 1971–1974	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts		Ashmore EdwardSir Edward Ashmore	1919	2016	First Sea Lord 1974–1977 Chief of the Defence Staff 1977	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts		Lewin TerenceSir Terence Lewin (later The Lord Lewin)	1920	1999	First Sea Lord 1977–1979 Chief of the Defence Staff 1979–1982	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts		Leach HenrySir Henry Leach	1923	2011	First Sea Lord 1979–1982	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Bust of Lord Fieldhouse (cropped).jpg	Fieldhouse JohnSir John Fieldhouse (later The Lord Fieldhouse)	1928	1992	First Sea Lord 1982–1985 Chief of the Defence Staff 1985–1988	<ref>Heathcote, p. 78.</ref><ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Olav V of Norway.jpg	King Olav V of Norway	1903	1991	Honorary, to foreign royalty	<ref> Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts		Staveley WilliamSir William Staveley	1928	1997	First Sea Lord 1985–1989	<ref>Heathcote, p. 235.</ref>
Template:Dts		Oswald JulianSir Julian Oswald	1933	2011	First Sea Lord 1989–1993	<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Template:Dts	File:No image.svg	Bathhurst BenjaminSir Benjamin Bathurst	1936	Living	First Sea Lord 1993–1995	<ref>Heathcote, p. 23.</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Charles III (Cenotaph 2024) 1.33 crop.jpg	WalesKing Charles III	1948	Living	Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom since 2022 Honorary appointment and at that time The Prince of Wales Assumed the rank in full capacity on the day following accession to the throne.	<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Template:Dts	File:Lord Boyce.jpg	Boyce MichaelThe Lord Boyce	1943	2022	First Sea Lord 1998–2001 Chief of the Defence Staff 2001–2003. Honorary rank	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• Admiral of the fleet as used in other countries
• British ensigns
• British and U.S. military ranks compared
• Coloured squadrons of the Royal Navy
• Comparative military ranks
• First Sea Lord
• Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom
• Royal Navy officer rank insignia

References

Sources

• Template:Cite book

External links

• Template:Commons category-inline

NATO rank code / Service branch	N/A	OF-1		OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6 ★	OF-7 ★★	OF-8 ★★★	OF-9 ★★★★	OF-10 ★★★★★
Royal Navy	OC	Midshipman	Sub Lt	Lt	Lt Cdr	Cdr	Captain	Cdre	RAdm	VAdm	Admiral	Adm of the Fleet
Royal Marines	OCdt	2Lt	Lt	Capt	Major	Lt Col	Colonel	Brig	Maj Gen	Lt Gen	General	Capt Gen RM
British Army	OCdt	2Lt	Lt	Capt	Major	Lt Col	Colonel	Brig	Maj Gen	Lt Gen	General	Field marshal
Royal Air Force	Off Cdt	APO / Plt Off	Fg Off	Flt Lt	Sqn Ldr	Wg Cdr	Gp Capt	Air Cdre	AVM	Air Mshl	Air Chf Mshl	Mshl of the RAF
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