George King (Royal Navy officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir George King
|
|
|---|---|
_02.jpg)
Vice-Admiral George King with Mōri Takachika and
Mōri Motonori of Chōshū Domain in 1867 (Yamaguchi Prefectural Archives) |
|
| Born | 15 July 1809 Stonehouse, Devon, England |
| Died | 18 August 1891 (aged 82) Exeter, Devon, England |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1822–1877 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | HMS Leander HMS Rodney HMS St Jean d'Acre East Indies and China Station China Station |
| Battles/wars | Crimean War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
Sir George St Vincent King was an important officer in the British Royal Navy. He lived from 1809 to 1891. He became a high-ranking Admiral. Later in his career, he was in charge of the Royal Navy's operations in China, known as the China Station.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George King was born on 15 July 1809 in Stonehouse, Devon, England. His father, Sir Richard King, was also a Vice-Admiral in the navy. George followed in his father's footsteps. He studied at the Royal Naval College in Portsmouth. This college trained young people to become naval officers.
George King started his journey in the Royal Navy in 1822. He was promoted to captain in 1841. This meant he was now in charge of his own ship.
Serving in the Crimean War
During the Crimean War, Captain King commanded a ship called HMS Leander. He served in the Black Sea during this conflict. The Crimean War was fought between 1853 and 1856. It involved Russia against an alliance of countries, including Britain.
After the Leander, he commanded two other ships:
- HMS Rodney starting in 1854.
- HMS St Jean d'Acre starting in 1855.
In September 1856, HMS St Jean d'Acre had a special mission. It carried a British diplomat, Earl Granville, to Russia. Earl Granville was going to the coronation of the new Russian ruler, Czar Alexander II, in St Petersburg.
Sir George King continued to rise through the ranks. In 1864, he was put in charge of the East Indies and China Station. This was a very important role. It meant he commanded all British naval forces in a huge area, from India to China. The next year, in 1865, this command was split. He then became the Commander-in-Chief of the China Station. This made him the top naval officer in the region.
He retired from the navy in 1877. In 1887, he inherited the title of Baronet from his older brother.
Family and Later Life
Sir George King married Lady Caroline Mary Dawson Damer in 1847. In 1888, he added the name Duckworth to his own. This was to honor his grandfather, Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth.
Sir George King passed away at his home in Exeter, Devon, on 18 August 1891. He was 82 years old. He was buried in Topsham Cemetery in Exeter.
