George Digby Morant facts for kids
Admiral Sir George Digby Morant (born August 8, 1837 – died February 13, 1921) was an important Anglo-Irish admiral in the British Royal Navy. He served his country for many years, rising through the ranks to become a high-ranking officer.
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Early Life and Family History
George Digby Morant was born in Ireland on August 8, 1837. His parents were George and Lydia Morant. His father was also named George Morant and came from Shirley House in Carrickmacross. His mother, Lydia Hemphill, was from Co. Tipperary. George's father served in the Grenadier Guards, which is a famous part of the British Army. He was also a justice of the peace, meaning he helped keep law and order.
The Morant family had a long history, tracing their roots back to Norman times. They lived in Brockenhurst, Hampshire, and had even owned plantations in Jamaica.
In 1866, George Morant married Sophia Georgina Eyres. She was the younger daughter of Colonel George William Eyres, who also served in the Grenadier Guards. Lady Morant passed away in 1911. Admiral Morant died ten years later, on February 13, 1921. He had three sons and four daughters. One of his sons, Edgar Robert Morant, also became a captain in the Royal Navy.
George Digby Morant began his journey in the Royal Navy in 1850. He studied at Burney's Royal Naval Academy in Gosport.
Early Service and Wars
As a young officer, called a Signal Midshipman, he served on the ship Tenasserin. This was during the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852. He bravely took part in the capture of the city of Bassein. For his actions, he was even mentioned in official reports.
Later, as a Mate, he served in the Crimean War from 1853 to 1856. For his service in this war, he received the Crimea Medal. In 1858, he was also honored by the Sultan of Turkey with the Imperial Order of Medjidie.
Rising Through the Ranks
Morant steadily climbed the ranks in the Royal Navy:
- He became a Commander in February 1866.
- He was promoted to Captain in February 1873.
- He became a Rear-Admiral before 1895.
- He was promoted to Vice-Admiral in June 1895.
He held several important positions during his career. From 1875 to 1878, he was the Inspector of Irish Lights, overseeing lighthouses. He then served as Commodore-in-Charge, Hong Kong from 1884 to 1887. After that, he was the Commodore-Superintendent at Pembroke Dockyard. From 1892 to 1895, he was the Admiral-Superintendent at Chatham Dockyard.
In March 1901, he reached the highest rank, becoming an Admiral. He retired shortly after, in May of the same year. For his long and distinguished service, he was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in November 1901.
Ships Commanded and Medals
During his time at sea, Admiral Morant commanded several ships, including:
- HMS Grasshopper
- HMS Enterprise
- HMS Cockatrice
- HMS Valorous
- HMS Achilles
- HMS Victor Emmanuel (as Commodore)
He received war medals for his involvement in operations in Burma, the Baltic Sea, Crimea, and China.
