George Callaghan

Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Astley Callaghan (December 21,1852 – November 23,1920) GCB entered the British Royal Navy as a cadet in 1865. In 1900, under Sir Edward Seymour, he was in command of the Endymion and entered Peking as part of the British response to the Boxer Rebellion.

In 1911 he was named Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet, and his term in this command was announced to be extended to December 1914. However, on the outbreak of World War I some months before that, when Callaghan was at sea on his flagship, the battleship Iron Duke, his successor-designate Sir John Jellicoe received orders to immediately relieve the aging Callaghan of command of the fleet. Although this was a move which had always been planned in the event of war, Jellicoe objected to the order, believing it would cause tension in the fleet. Jellicoe's protests were brushed aside by the senior officials at the Admiralty, however, and he suceeded Callahan in August of 1914. Callaghan, meanwhile, was transferred to the more defensive station of Commander-in-Chief, The Nore and served until 1918, by which time he had been promoted to the Navy's highest rank, Admiral of the Fleet.

He ended his days as King of Arms of the Order of the Bath and his funeral was held in Westminster Abbey.