Edmund Poë

Admiral

Sir Edmund Poë

GCVO, KCB
Born11 September 1849
Durraghmore, County Tipperary, Ireland
Died1 April 1921 (1921-05) (aged 71)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service / branch Royal Navy
Years of service1862–1914
RankAdmiral
CommandsEast Indies Station
Cape of Good Hope Station
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Admiral Sir Edmund Samuel Poë, GCVO, KCB (11 September 1849 – 1 April 1921) was an Irish Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, East Indies station.

Early life

Poë was born on September 11, 1849, in Ireland. His father was William Thomas Poe, a barrister. One of his older brothers was the soldier and politician Sir William Hutcheson Poë.[1] Another older brother, George Leslie Poë, became a Royal Navy Captain.[2]

Educated at the Burney's Royal Naval Academy, Gosport, Poë joined the Royal Navy in 1862.[3] In April 1864, he was appointed to HMS Bombay as a midshipman,[4] and was serving on board when the ship caught fire and sank off Montevideo in December 1864 with the loss of 92 crew.[5]

In May 1875, while serving as a lieutenant on HMS Newcastle, Poë jumped overboard to rescue a man who had fallen into the sea. For this he was awarded the bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society; he rescued another man who'd fallen into the sea in October 1876.[1]

He was made Naval Advisor to the Inspector-General of Fortifications in 1889 and Commander of the Training Squadron in 1897.[3]

Promoted to Commodore 2nd Class by 1899 he commanded the Cruiser Squadron until 1900.

HMS Hyacinth, Poë inset

In September 1901 he was promoted to Rear-Admiral.[6] He went on to be Second in command of the Home Fleet in 1903 and Rear-Admiral Commanding 1st Cruiser Squadron in 1904.[3] He was appointed Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station in 1905, Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope Station in 1907 and Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet in 1910.[3] Finally was appointed First and Principal Aide-de-Camp to the King in 1912 and retired on September 11, 1914.[3][1]

Family

In 1877 he married Frances Catherine Sheil.[7] They had two sons and a daughter.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Death Of Admiral Sir E. Poë". The Times. No. 42688. London. 7 April 1921. p. 14.
  2. ^ "Captain Poë RN". The Times. No. 46750. London. 10 May 1934. p. 19.
  3. ^ a b c d e Medals, Dix Noonan Webb.
  4. ^ "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. No. 24840. London. 7 April 1864. p. 14.
  5. ^ Who Was Who. Vol.2, 1916-28 (5 ed.). Black. 1992. p. 654. ISBN 0-7136-3143-0. OCLC 1158346242.
  6. ^ "No. 27359". The London Gazette. 27 September 1901. p. 6292.
  7. ^ Family Search
Military offices
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station
1905–1907 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope Station
1907–1908 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet
1910–1912 		Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp
1913–1914 		Succeeded by