# John de Robeck

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Royal Navy Admiral (1862–1928)

Admiral of the Fleet Sir John de Robeck Bt GCB GCMG GCVO Sir John Michael de Robeck Born (1862-06-10)10 June 1862 Naas, County Kildare, Ireland Died 20 January 1928(1928-01-20) (aged 65) London, England Allegiance United Kingdom Branch Royal Navy Service years 1875–1924 Rank Admiral of the Fleet Commands Atlantic Fleet Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet 2nd Battle Squadron 3rd Battle Squadron Eastern Mediterranean Squadron 9th Cruiser Squadron HMS Dominion HMS Carnarvon HMS Mermaid HMS Angler HMS Desperate Conflicts First World War Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Spouse Hilda Maud (Lady de Robeck)

[Admiral of the Fleet](/source/Admiral_of_the_Fleet_(Royal_Navy)) **Sir John Michael de Robeck, 1st Baronet**, [GCB](/source/Knight_Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath), [GCMG](/source/Knight_Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_St_Michael_and_St_George), [GCVO](/source/Knight_Grand_Cross_of_the_Royal_Victorian_Order) (10 June 1862 – 20 January 1928) was an [officer](/source/Officer_(armed_forces)) in the [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy). In the early years of the 20th century he served as Admiral of Patrols, commanding four flotillas of [destroyers](/source/Destroyer).

De Robeck commanded the allied naval force in the [Dardanelles](/source/Dardanelles) during the [First World War](/source/World_War_I). His campaign to force the straits, launched on 18 March 1915, was nearly successful, as the Turkish land-based artillery almost ran out of [ammunition](/source/Ammunition). However, mines laid in the straits led to the loss of three allied battleships. The subsequent ground campaign, like the naval campaign, was ultimately a failure and the ground troops had to be taken off the [Gallipoli](/source/Gallipoli) peninsula by de Robeck on the night of 8 January 1916. He went on to become Commander of the [3rd Battle Squadron](/source/3rd_Battle_Squadron_(United_Kingdom)) of the [Grand Fleet](/source/Grand_Fleet) and then Commander of the [2nd Battle Squadron](/source/2nd_Battle_Squadron_(United_Kingdom)) of the Grand Fleet.

After the war de Robeck became [Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet](/source/Mediterranean_Fleet) and British High Commissioner to Turkey, and then [Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet](/source/Atlantic_Fleet_(United_Kingdom)).

## Naval career

### Early career

Born the son of [John Henry Edward Fock, 4th Baron de Robeck](/source/De_Robeck) (a member of the [Swedish nobility](/source/List_of_Swedish_noble_families))[1] and Zoë Sophia Charlotte Fock (née Burton),[2] de Robeck joined the Royal Navy as a [cadet](/source/Cadet) in the training ship [HMS *Britannia*](/source/HMS_Prince_of_Wales_(1860)) on 15 July 1875.[3] Promoted to [midshipman](/source/Midshipman) on 27 July 1878, he joined the [frigate](/source/Frigate) [HMS *Shannon*](/source/HMS_Shannon_(1875)) in the [Channel Squadron](/source/Channel_Fleet) in July 1878 and then transferred to the training ship [HMS *St Vincent*](/source/HMS_St_Vincent_(1815)) at [Portsmouth](/source/Portsmouth) in April 1882.[4] Promoted to [sub-lieutenant](/source/Sub-lieutenant) on 27 July 1882, he joined the gunnery school [HMS *Excellent*](/source/HMS_Queen_Charlotte_(1810)) in August 1882 before transferring to the gunboat [HMS *Espoir*](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HMS_Espoir_(1880)&action=edit&redlink=1) on the [China Station](/source/Commander-in-Chief%2C_China) in August 1883.[4] Promoted to [lieutenant](/source/Lieutenant_(navy)) on 30 September 1885,[5] he transferred to the [battleship](/source/Battleship) [HMS *Audacious*](/source/HMS_Audacious_(1869)), flagship of the [Commander-in-Chief, China](/source/Commander-in-Chief%2C_China) in early 1886, to the [brig](/source/Brig) [HMS *Seaflower*](/source/HMS_Seaflower_(1873)) in March 1887 and to the battleship [HMS *Agincourt*](/source/HMS_Agincourt_(1865)), flagship of the Channel Squadron, in November 1887.[4] He joined the staff of the training ship HMS *Britannia* in September 1888 and then transferred to the [armoured cruiser](/source/Armored_cruiser) [HMS *Imperieuse*](/source/HMS_Imperieuse_(1883)), flagship of the China Station, in January 1891 before returning to the staff of the training ship HMS *Britannia* in August 1893.[4]

De Robeck became gunnery officer in the [corvette](/source/Corvette) [HMS *Cordelia*](/source/HMS_Cordelia_(1881)) on the [North America and West Indies Station](/source/North_America_and_West_Indies_Station) in November 1895 and, following promotion to [commander](/source/Commander_(Royal_Navy)) on 22 June 1897,[6] became commanding officer of the [destroyer](/source/Destroyer) [HMS *Desperate*](/source/HMS_Desperate_(1896)) at [Chatham](/source/Chatham_Dockyard) in July 1897, next the destroyer [HMS *Angler*](/source/HMS_Angler) at Chatham in July 1898 and then the destroyer [HMS *Mermaid*](/source/HMS_Mermaid_(1898)) at Chatham in June 1899.[4] After that he became [executive officer](/source/Executive_officer) in the cruiser [HMS *Pyramus*](/source/HMS_Pyramus_(1897)) in the [Mediterranean Fleet](/source/Mediterranean_Fleet) in June 1900.[4]

Promoted to [captain](/source/Captain_(Royal_Navy)) on 1 January 1902,[7] de Robeck was in July 1902 appointed in command of [HMS *Warrior*](/source/HMS_Warrior_(1860)), depot ship at Portsmouth.[8] He temporarily commissioned [HMS *Hercules*](/source/HMS_Hercules_(1868)) for short while during summer 1902, waiting for *Warrior* to be ready from an extensive refit.[9] He became commanding officer of the armoured cruiser [HMS *Carnarvon*](/source/HMS_Carnarvon) in the Mediterranean Fleet in August 1906, commanding officer of the battleship [HMS *Dominion*](/source/HMS_Dominion) in the Channel Fleet in January 1908 and then inspecting officer of boys' training establishments in January 1910.[4] Promoted to [rear admiral](/source/Rear_admiral_(Royal_Navy)) on 1 December 1911,[10] he became Admiral of Patrols, commanding four flotillas of destroyers, in April 1912.[4]

### First World War

De Robeck received command of the 9th Cruiser Squadron, with his flag in the protected cruiser [HMS *Amphitrite*](/source/HMS_Amphitrite_(1898)), in August 1914, just after the start of the [First World War](/source/World_War_I). In this position, he captured the German liners SS *Schlesien* and SS *Graecia*.[4][11]

De Robeck became second-in-command, under Admiral [Sackville Carden](/source/Sackville_Carden), of the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron (the Allied naval forces in the [Dardanelles](/source/Dardanelles)), with his flag in the battleship [HMS *Vengeance*](/source/HMS_Vengeance_(1899)), in February 1915.[4] Carden received instructions to force the straits and then push on to [Constantinople](/source/Constantinople): he made an unsuccessful attempt to do this on 19 February 1915, but then fell seriously ill, leaving de Robeck to take command, with his flag in the battleship [HMS *Queen Elizabeth*](/source/HMS_Queen_Elizabeth_(1913)), in March 1915.[4] De Robeck's campaign to force the straits, launched on 18 March 1915, nearly succeeded, as the Turkish land-based artillery almost ran out of [ammunition](/source/Ammunition): however, [mines](/source/Naval_mine) laid in the straits led to the loss of three Allied battleships.[12] De Robeck, seeing no sense in losing more ships, then abandoned the whole naval operation.[12] On 25 April 1915 the Royal Navy landed General [Ian Hamilton](/source/Ian_Standish_Monteith_Hamilton)'s troops at the tip of the [Gallipoli](/source/Gallipoli) peninsula ([Cape Helles](/source/Cape_Helles)) and at [Anzac Cove](/source/Anzac_Cove), on the peninsula's western coast. The [Ottoman](/source/Ottoman_Empire) forces and their German advisors had had two months warning from the first serious navy attack to prepare ground defences before the follow-up ground landing could be mounted, and they used the time effectively.[13] The initial landings failed to achieve their objectives, and the Allies made a further unsuccessful attempt, in August 1915, at [Suvla Bay](/source/Suvla).[12] In the wake of this setback, Commodore [Roger Keyes](/source/Roger_Keyes%2C_1st_Baron_Keyes), de Robeck's Chief of Staff, argued for a third attempt to force the straits, but de Robeck recommended against it and the [Admiralty](/source/British_Admiralty) accepted de Robeck's advice.[2] The ground campaign, like the naval campaign, ultimately proved a failure, and although de Robeck was appointed a [Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath](/source/Order_of_the_Bath) for his service in the [Gallipoli Campaign](/source/Gallipoli_Campaign) on 1 January 1916,[14] he had to organize the evacuation of Hamilton's troops off the Gallipoli peninsula on the night of 8 January 1916.[12]

De Robeck went on to become Commander of the [3rd Battle Squadron](/source/3rd_Battle_Squadron_(United_Kingdom)) of the [Grand Fleet](/source/Grand_Fleet), with his flag in the battleship [HMS *Britannia*](/source/HMS_Britannia_(1904)), in May 1916; and Commander of the [2nd Battle Squadron](/source/2nd_Battle_Squadron_(United_Kingdom)) of the Grand Fleet, with his flag in the battleship [HMS *King George V*](/source/HMS_King_George_V_(1911)), in November 1916.[2] He was promoted to [vice admiral](/source/Vice_admiral_(Royal_Navy)) on 17 May 1917.[15]

### After the war

De Robeck (left) with [Emir Abdullah of Jordan](/source/Abdullah_I_of_Jordan) (centre) in [HMS *Iron Duke*](/source/HMS_Iron_Duke_(1912)), flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet, in 1921

Appointed a [Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George](/source/Order_of_St_Michael_and_St_George) on 1 January 1919,[16] de Robeck became [Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet](/source/Mediterranean_Fleet) and British High Commissioner to Turkey, with his flag in the battleship [HMS *Iron Duke*](/source/HMS_Iron_Duke_(1912)), in July 1919.[12] He was created a [baronet](/source/Baronet) on 29 December 1919[17] and promoted to full [admiral](/source/Admiral_(Royal_Navy)) on 24 March 1920.[18] Advanced to [Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath](/source/Order_of_the_Bath) on 1 January 1921,[19] he went on to be [Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet](/source/Atlantic_Fleet_(United_Kingdom)) in August 1922 before retiring in August 1924.[12]

In retirement de Robeck became President of the [Marylebone Cricket Club](/source/Marylebone_Cricket_Club).[12] Appointed a [Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order](/source/Royal_Victorian_Order) in November 1925,[2] he was promoted to [Admiral of the Fleet](/source/Admiral_of_the_Fleet_(Royal_Navy)) on 24 November 1925[20] and died at his home in [London](/source/London) on 20 January 1928.[12]

## Family

In 1922 he married Hilda, Lady Lockhart, widow of [Sir Simon Macdonald Lockhart, 5th Baronet](/source/Lockhart_baronets); they had no children.[12]

## Honours and awards

- [Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath](/source/Knight_Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath) – 1 January 1921[19] (KCB – 1 January 1916[14])

- [Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George](/source/Knight_Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_St_Michael_and_St_George) – 1 January 1919[16]

- [Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order](/source/Knight_Grand_Cross_of_the_Royal_Victorian_Order) – November 1925[2]

- [Knight of Grace of the Venerable Order of Saint John](/source/Venerable_Order_of_Saint_John) – 29 November 1920[21]

- Grand Officer of the French [Legion of Honour](/source/Legion_of_Honour) – 9 August 1916[22]

- Grand Cross of the [Order of the Crown of Italy](/source/Order_of_the_Crown_of_Italy) – 11 August 1917[23]

- Japanese [Order of the Sacred Treasure](/source/Order_of_the_Sacred_Treasure), 1st class – 29 August 1917[24]

- Grand Officer of the [Order of the Crown of Romania](/source/Order_of_the_Crown_(Romania)) – 17 March 1919[25]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["The de Robecks of Gowran Grange, Co. Kildare"](http://www.turtlebunbury.com/history/history_family/hist_family_derobeck.htm). Turtle Bunbury. Retrieved 19 October 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-odnb_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-odnb_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-odnb_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-odnb_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-odnb_2-4) ["John de Robeck"](http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/32790). *[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography)* (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/ref:odnb/32790](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fref%3Aodnb%2F32790). Retrieved 19 October 2014. (Subscription, [Wikipedia Library](https://wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org/partners/88/) access or [UK public library membership](https://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-heath65_3-0)** Heathcote, p. 65

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-heath66_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-heath66_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-heath66_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-heath66_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-heath66_4-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-heath66_4-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-heath66_4-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-heath66_4-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-heath66_4-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-heath66_4-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-heath66_4-10) Heathcote, p. 66

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["No. 25516"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/25516/page/4599). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 2 October 1885. p. 4599.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["No. 26865"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/26865/page/3443). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 22 June 1897. p. 3443.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["No. 27393"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27393/page/3). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 3 January 1902. p. 3.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** "Naval & Military intelligence". *The Times*. No. 36819. London. 14 July 1902. p. 7.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** "Naval & Military intelligence". *The Times*. No. 36822. London. 17 July 1902. p. 9.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["No. 28562"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28562/page/9446). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 15 December 1911. p. 9446.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Stewart, William (28 September 2009). [*Admirals of the World: A Biographical Dictionary, 1500 to the Present*](https://books.google.com/books?id=ZFeQBQAAQBAJ). McFarland (published 2009). p. 97. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780786438099](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780786438099). In 1914, [de Robeck] commanded the Ninth Cruiser Squadron based at Finisterre, Spain [...]. At that station he captured two German liners, the ship *Schlesien* and the ship *Græcia*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-heath67_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-heath67_12-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-heath67_12-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-heath67_12-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-heath67_12-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-heath67_12-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-heath67_12-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-heath67_12-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-heath67_12-8) Heathcote, p. 67

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Carlyon, pp. 79–83

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-kcb_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-kcb_14-1) ["No. 29423"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29423/supplement/80). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 31 December 1915. p. 80.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["No. 30084"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30084/page/4942). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 22 May 1917. p. 4942.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gcmg_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gcmg_16-1) ["No. 31099"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31099/supplement/109). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 31 December 1918. p. 109.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["No. 31708"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31708/page/15988). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 30 December 1919. p. 15988.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["No. 31867"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31867/page/4474). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 16 April 1920. p. 4474.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gcb_19-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gcb_19-1) ["No. 32178"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32178/supplement/4). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 1 January 1921. p. 4.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["No. 33110"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33110/page/7950). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 1 December 1925. p. 7950.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["No. 32145"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32145/page/11793). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 30 November 1920. p. 11793.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["No. 29703"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29703/page/7912). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 11 August 1916. p. 7912.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["No. 30227"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30227/supplement/8209). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 10 August 1917. p. 8209.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["No. 30258"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30258/supplement/8989). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 28 August 1917. p. 8989.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["No. 31236"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31236/supplement/3593). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 14 March 1919. p. 3593.

## Sources

- Carlyon, Les A. (2002). *Gallipoli*. New York: Pan Macmillan. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7329-1128-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7329-1128-7).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: publisher location ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_publisher_location))

- Heathcote, Tony (2002). *The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 – 1995*. Pen & Sword Ltd. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85052-835-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85052-835-6).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [John de Robeck](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:John_de_Robeck).

- [Transcription of Official Service Records on www.admirals.org.uk](http://www.admirals.org.uk/admirals/fleet/derobeckjm.php) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081205140309/http://www.admirals.org.uk/admirals/fleet/derobeckjm.php) 5 December 2008 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- The Dreadnought Project: [John de Robeck](http://dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/John_Michael_de_Robeck,_First_Baronet)

- ["de Robeck, Admiral Sir John Michael"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Thom%27s_Irish_Who%27s_Who/de_Robeck,_Admiral_Sir_John_Michael). [*Thom's Irish Who's Who*](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Thom%27s_Irish_Who%27s_Who). Dublin: [Alexander Thom and Son Ltd.](/source/Alexander_Thom_(almanac_editor)) 1923. p. [59](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Thom%27s_Irish_Who%27s_Who/de_Robeck,_Admiral_Sir_John_Michael#59) – via [Wikisource](/source/Wikisource).

- [The Papers of Admiral Sir John de Robeck](https://archivesearch.lib.cam.ac.uk/repositories/9/resources/1534) held at [Churchill Archives Centre](/source/Churchill_Archives_Centre)

Military offices Preceded by Sir Somerset Gough-Calthorpe Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet 1919–1922 Succeeded by Sir Osmond Brock Preceded by Sir Charles Madden Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet 1922–1924 Succeeded by Sir Henry Oliver

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National France BnF data People Ireland

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