Difference between revisions of "Frank Finnis"

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==Life & Career==
 
==Life & Career==
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Frank Finnis was born in Dover<ref>Malta Family History: [http://website.lineone.net/~stephaniebidmead/navy0079.htm THE ROYAL NAVY 1900 - 1979].  He entered the Royal Navy on 25 January, 1865.</ref> on 8 November, 1851.<ref>ADM 186/38.  f. 387.</ref>
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On 8 October 1874, he was promoted Lieutenant.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
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From October 1876 to June 1878, Finnis was at ''[[H.M.S. Excellent|Excellent]]'' for various courses. During this time he earned a First Class Certificate in Gunnery from ''Excellent'' and an Honorary Certificate from the Royal Naval College.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
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On 21 April, 1883, he was appointed to the Senior Staff of [[H.M.S. Cambridge (Gunnery Training School)|H.M.S. ''Cambridge'']], gunnery ship at Devonport.<ref>''The Navy List'' (December, 1884).  p. 254.</ref>
 
On 21 April, 1883, he was appointed to the Senior Staff of [[H.M.S. Cambridge (Gunnery Training School)|H.M.S. ''Cambridge'']], gunnery ship at Devonport.<ref>''The Navy List'' (December, 1884).  p. 254.</ref>
 
   
 
   
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Finnis was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 1 January, 1893.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26359/pages/2 no. 26359.  p. 2.]  2 January, 1893.</ref>
 
Finnis was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 1 January, 1893.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26359/pages/2 no. 26359.  p. 2.]  2 January, 1893.</ref>
  
He assumed command of the {{UK-RoyalArthur|f=t}} in May 1895.{{MackieRNW}}
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He assumed command of the {{UK-RoyalArthur|f=t}} in May 1895.{{MackieRNW}} This was his first permanent command, and indicates that the Admiralty--or at least those responsible for command appointments--thought highly of Finnis, since ''Royal Arthur'' was flagship of the Pacific Station. This faith was apparently justified, since Rear-Admiral [[Henry Frederick Stephenson|Henry Stephenson]]'s report upon giving up command of the station described Finnis as "[a]n excellent officer, who has maintained his ship in the highest state of discipline."  Stephenson also recommended Finnis for advancement.<ref>ADM 196/86.  f. 118.</ref>
  
 
He was appointed in command of the {{UK-1Collingwood|f=t}} on 27 February, 1900.<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 8 February, 1900.  Issue '''36060''', col F, p. 10.</ref>  He may also have been in command of {{UK-Illustrious}} from February 1900, but it is not clear which preceded the other, if both occurred.{{MackieRNW}}
 
He was appointed in command of the {{UK-1Collingwood|f=t}} on 27 February, 1900.<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 8 February, 1900.  Issue '''36060''', col F, p. 10.</ref>  He may also have been in command of {{UK-Illustrious}} from February 1900, but it is not clear which preceded the other, if both occurred.{{MackieRNW}}
  
Finnis was appointed to the {{UK-1Cambrian}} as {{Com2RN}} on 20 June, 1902.<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 2 June, 1902.  Issue '''36783''', col D, p. 9.</ref>
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Having left ''Illustrious'' to return to England on 17 April 1902,<ref>ADM 196/38.  f. 387.</ref>  Finnis was subsequently appointed to the ''{{UK-1Cambrian|f=t}}'' as {{Com2RN}} on 20 June, 1902.<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 2 June, 1902.  Issue '''36783''', col D, p. 9.</ref>
  
 
He was appointed a [[Naval Aide-de-Camp]] to the King dated 30 August, 1903, vice [[Richard Poore, Fourth Baronet|Poore]].<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27596/pages/5665 no. 27596.  p. 5665.]  11 September, 1903.</ref>
 
He was appointed a [[Naval Aide-de-Camp]] to the King dated 30 August, 1903, vice [[Richard Poore, Fourth Baronet|Poore]].<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27596/pages/5665 no. 27596.  p. 5665.]  11 September, 1903.</ref>
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Rear-Admiral Finnis married Ann Lake<ref>The new Mrs. Finnis's full name is given--in the usual cramped and squalid handwriting reserved for historically important records--in Finnis's service record as something close to Ann Hare Shallinor Lake, ''née Macrobin''.</ref> at Kensington Parish Church on 11 July, 1906.<ref>ADM 196/38.  f. 387.</ref>
  
 
==Flag Rank==
 
==Flag Rank==

Revision as of 12:08, 3 November 2012

Admiral Frank Finnis, C.V.O., Royal Navy, Retired (8 November, 1851 – 17 November, 1918) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Frank Finnis was born in Dover[1] on 8 November, 1851.[2]

On 8 October 1874, he was promoted Lieutenant.[3]

From October 1876 to June 1878, Finnis was at Excellent for various courses. During this time he earned a First Class Certificate in Gunnery from Excellent and an Honorary Certificate from the Royal Naval College.[4]

On 21 April, 1883, he was appointed to the Senior Staff of H.M.S. Cambridge, gunnery ship at Devonport.[5]

Finnis was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 January, 1886.[6]

Finnis was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1 January, 1893.[7]

He assumed command of the first class protected cruiser Royal Arthur in May 1895.[8] This was his first permanent command, and indicates that the Admiralty--or at least those responsible for command appointments--thought highly of Finnis, since Royal Arthur was flagship of the Pacific Station. This faith was apparently justified, since Rear-Admiral Henry Stephenson's report upon giving up command of the station described Finnis as "[a]n excellent officer, who has maintained his ship in the highest state of discipline." Stephenson also recommended Finnis for advancement.[9]

He was appointed in command of the second class battleship Collingwood on 27 February, 1900.[10] He may also have been in command of Illustrious from February 1900, but it is not clear which preceded the other, if both occurred.[11]

Having left Illustrious to return to England on 17 April 1902,[12] Finnis was subsequently appointed to the second class protected cruiser Cambrian as Commodore, Second Class on 20 June, 1902.[13]

He was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King dated 30 August, 1903, vice Poore.[14]

Rear-Admiral Finnis married Ann Lake[15] at Kensington Parish Church on 11 July, 1906.[16]

Flag Rank

Finnis was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 16 February, 1905, vice Grenfell.[17]

On the occasion of the King's inspection of the Home Fleet Finnis was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) on 3 August, 1907.[18]

Finnis was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 15 November, 1908.[19] In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December, 1903, he was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 9 February, 1909.[20] He was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 20 March, 1913.[21]

On 24 April, 1915, he was granted a temporary Commission as a Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve.[22]

Footnotes

  1. Malta Family History: THE ROYAL NAVY 1900 - 1979. He entered the Royal Navy on 25 January, 1865.
  2. ADM 186/38. f. 387.
  3. Ibid.
  4. Ibid.
  5. The Navy List (December, 1884). p. 254.
  6. The London Gazette: no. 25545. p. 7. 1 January, 1886.
  7. The London Gazette: no. 26359. p. 2. 2 January, 1893.
  8. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  9. ADM 196/86. f. 118.
  10. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 8 February, 1900. Issue 36060, col F, p. 10.
  11. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  12. ADM 196/38. f. 387.
  13. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 2 June, 1902. Issue 36783, col D, p. 9.
  14. The London Gazette: no. 27596. p. 5665. 11 September, 1903.
  15. The new Mrs. Finnis's full name is given--in the usual cramped and squalid handwriting reserved for historically important records--in Finnis's service record as something close to Ann Hare Shallinor Lake, née Macrobin.
  16. ADM 196/38. f. 387.
  17. The London Gazette: no. 27766. p. 1279. 21 February, 1905.
  18. The London Gazette: no. 28048. p. 5390. 6 August, 1907.
  19. The London Gazette: no. 28201. p. 9182. 1 December, 1908.
  20. The London Gazette: no. 28223. p. 1111. 12 February, 1909.
  21. The London Gazette: no. 28703. p. 2159. 21 March, 1913.
  22. The London Gazette: no. 29145. p. 4061. 27 April, 1915.

Bibliography

  • "Fallen Officers" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 20 November, 1918. Issue 41952, col F, p. 8.

Service Records


Naval Appointments
 Template:CatAdmiral