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[[Rear-Admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral]] {{SIR}} '''Charles Langdale Ottley''', K.C.M.G., C.B., M.V.O., Royal Navy ([[8 February]], [[1858]] – [[24 September]], [[1932]]) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]].
[[Rear-Admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral]] {{SIR}} '''Charles Langdale Ottley''', K.C.M.G., C.B., M.V.O., Royal Navy (8 February, 1858 – 24 September, 1932) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]].


==Early Life & Career==
==Early Life & Career==
Ottley was born at Richmond, Yorkshire, 8 February 1858, the seventh son of Lawrence Ottley, rector of Richmond and canon of Ripon, by his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of John Bickersteth, rector of Sapcote, Leicestershire, and sister of Robert Bickersteth, bishop of Ripon. Robert Lawrence Ottley, canon of Christ Church, Oxford, was an elder brother. He entered the Royal Navy in 1871, and in 1877 was serving as a midshipman in the screw corvette Amethyst, when in company with the Shah she engaged the rebel Peruvian warship Huascar off the coast of Peru. He gained accelerated promotion to lieutenant by obtaining first class certificates in all his examinations, and in 1882, as lieutenant of the Monarch (Captain (Sir) [[George Tryon]]), was present at the bombardment of Alexandria, receiving the Egyptian medal with clasp and the khedive's bronze star. Later in that year he returned home in order to qualify as a torpedo officer, and while serving in the Vernon he displayed marked technical ability and inventive capacity by devising a very successful automatic mooring gear for submarine mines which bears his name. In 1884 he became torpedo lieutenant of Rear-Admiral Tryon's flagship, the Nelson, on the Australia station for two years; he was later appointed torpedo lieutenant of the Camperdown and afterwards of the Victoria, flagships of the commander-in-chief Mediterranean, Admiral Sir Anthony Hoskins [q.v.] , who was later relieved by Vice-Admiral Tryon. Ottley was promoted commander in 1892, but remained in the ship in that rank as executive officer until early in 1893, when he returned home in order to become commander of the Vernon for two and a half years. He resumed sea service in 1897, in command of the sloop Nymphe in the Mediterranean, employed chiefly as senior naval officer at Port Said in 1897 and at Constantinople in 1898.


Ottley relinquished command of the Nymphe on his promotion to captain in January 1899, and was then appointed naval attaché to various British embassies; he acted in that capacity during the next five years in Washington, Rome, Tokyo, St. Petersburg, and Paris, thereby gaining unique knowledge and experience of foreign navies and foreign policy. Towards the end of his service as naval attaché he contemplated adopting a political career, and he was chosen in 1903 as prospective conservative candidate for Pembroke Boroughs. But his special qualifications led to his appointment in 1904 to the staff of the recently established Committee of Imperial Defence, and in 1905 to his selection, although a comparatively junior captain, to succeed Rear-Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg (afterwards [[Louis Alexander Mountbatten, First Marquess of Milford Haven]]) as director of Naval Intelligence, then the most important post, other than membership of the Board, in the Admiralty; and he abandoned his parliamentary ambitions. As director of Naval Intelligence, he sat on a number of important commissions, notably that of 1906 on war risks to shipping. In 1907 he was the principal naval delegate to the second Peace Conference at The Hague, where he took a leading part in drawing up the convention limiting the use of submarine mines, to the development of which he had devoted so much ingenuity many years earlier. In that same year, when the original secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence, Sir George Clarke (afterwards Lord Sydenham), relinquished that office, largely owing to differences of view which had arisen between him and the first sea lord, Sir John (afterwards Lord) Fisher, Ottley was selected to relieve him. In 1908 he was a delegate to the International Maritime Conference of London. He reached the top of the captains' list in that year, but not having served at sea in that rank, he was automatically placed on the retired list on promotion to rear-admiral (1908); but he remained secretary to the Committee of Imperial Defence until 1912, when he had completed five years in office. Those five years, largely as a result of Ottley's unostentatious but skilful organization and guidance, were the most important period in the development of the committee into a highly efficient instrument for the co-ordination of the nation's forces in the preparation for, and conduct of war.
In July, 1871, Ottley was ranked second in order of merit of thirty-five candidates accepted as Naval Cadets following the entrance examinations.<ref>"Naval Intelligence."  ''The Times'' (London, England), Tuesday, Jul 04, 1871; pg. 12; Issue 27106.</ref>


On retirement from office, Ottley made his home at Coruanan, Fort William, Inverness-shire, and joined the board of Messrs. Armstrong, Whitworth & company, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne; he took an active part in the superintendence of that company's output of war material, particularly after the outbreak of war in 1914. He was appointed M.V.O. in 1903, C.B. in 1911, and K.C.M.G. in 1907 for his services at The Hague Peace Conference. He retired from the board of Armstrongs on the post-war reconstruction of the company. In 1892 he married Kathleen Margaret, daughter of Colonel Alexander Stewart, of the Royal Artillery, and had a son, who died of wounds in 1914. A few days before his death he moved from Coruanan to Creag, Tarbet, Argyll, where he died 24 September 1932. He was a man of much charm and no little literary ability, a good linguist, and a fluent, convincing, and persuasive speaker.
Ottley was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} with seniority of 8 December, 1879.{{Gaz|24791|7324|12 December, 1879}}


[[Category:1858 births|Ottley]]
He was appointed to {{UK-Vernon}} on 19 May, 1884 as a torpedo Lieutenant.{{NLJul84|p. 249}}
[[Category:1932 deaths|Ottley]]
 
[[Category:Personalities|Ottley]]
Ottley was thanked for assigning a patent to the War Office for "Improvements in Mooring Submarine Mines" without stipulating a reward for himself.<ref>Ottley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 992.</ref>
[[Category:Directors of Naval Intelligence (Royal Navy)|Ottley]]
 
[[Category:Royal Navy Rear-Admirals|Ottley]]
Ottley was appointed Torpedo Lieutenant of the battleship [[H.M.S. Victoria (1887)|''Victoria'']], flag ship on the [[Mediterranean Station]], on 14 November, 1889.{{NLMar91|p. 263}}
[[Category:Royal Navy Flag Officers|Ottley]]
 
Ottley was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1892.{{Gaz|26309|4187|22 July, 1892}}
 
==Captain==
He was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 1 January, 1899.{{Gaz|27040|84|6 January, 1899}}
 
On the occasion of King Edward VII's visit to Paris, Ottley was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) on 4 May, 1903.{{Gaz|27560|3526|2 June, 1903}}
 
He was appointed a [[Naval Aide-de-Camp]] to the King on 1 June, 1907, vice [[Frederick St. George Rich|Rich]].{{Gaz|28027|3832|4 June, 1907}}
 
In accordance with the provisions of the [[Order in Council of 22 February, 1870]], Ottley was placed on the Retired List with permission to assume the rank of {{RearRN}} on 15 June, 1908.{{Gaz|28150|4555|23 June, 1908}}
 
Winston Churchill had evidently offered him a prominent position in the proposed [[Admiralty War Staff]], for Ottley, referring to his "flattering proposal," replied, "I can only say that I shall do exactly what is held to be best for the public interest, I think the fact that I am on the retired list is a very serious disability, and the only justifiable ground for appointing me to such a position would be that no naval officer of the active list could possibly spare enough time from service afloat to do justice to the appointment."<ref>Letter of 13 November, 1911.  {{TNA|CAB 1/31.}}  ff. 192-193.</ref>
 
Kathleen Margaret, his widow, died in Bath on 4 February, 1940 aged sixty-seven.<ref>"Deaths" (Deaths).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 8 February, 1940.  Issue '''48534''', col B, p. 1.</ref>
 
==Bibliography==
<small>
*"Rear-Admiral Sir C. L. Ottley" (Obituaries).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 26 September, 1932.  Issue '''46248''', col A, pg. 17.
</small>
 
==Service Records==
{{refbegin}}
*{{TNA|ADM 196/39.|}}
*{{TNA|ADM 196/20.|}}
{{refend}}
 
<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur Dodgson|Arthur Dodgson]]'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 80 (1886)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 80]]'''<br>18 Jul, 1889<ref>Ottley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 992.</ref> &ndash; 7 Sep, 1889<ref>Ottley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 992.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Lewis Bayly|Lewis Bayly]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edward Arthur Salwey|Edward A. Salwey]]'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 43 (1885)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 43]]'''<br>6 May, 1892<ref>Ottley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 992.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur Bertram Finch Dawson|Arthur B. F. Dawson]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[William Henry Hall|William H. Hall]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Vernon (Torpedo Training School)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Vernon'']]'''<br>11 Jul, 1893<ref>Ottley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 988.</ref> &ndash; 22 Aug, 1893<ref>Ottley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 988.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Baldwin Wake Walker, Second Baronet|Baldwin W. Walker]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Frederick Samuel Vander-Meulen|Frederick S. Vander-Meulen]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Devastation (1871)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Devastation'']]'''<br>5 Dec, 1893{{NLApr94|p. 214}} &ndash; 1894|Succeeded by<br>'''[[William Metcalfe Lang|William M. Lang]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Joseph Honner|Joseph Honner]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Nymphe (1888)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Nymphe'']]'''<br>11 Jan, 1897{{NLOct98|p. 275}}<ref>Ottley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 988.</ref> &ndash; 17 Jul, 1899<ref>Ottley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 988.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Richard Bowles Farquhar|Richard B. Farquhar]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[Naval Attaché (Royal Navy)|Royal Navy Naval Attaché at Tokyo]]'''<br>Jul, 1899<ref>Ottley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 988.</ref> &ndash; after Apr, 1901<ref>Ottley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 988.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Thomas Jackson|Thomas Jackson]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Henry Bradwardine Jackson|Henry B. Jackson]]'''|'''[[Naval Attaché (Royal Navy)|Royal Navy Naval Attaché at Paris]]'''<br>after Apr, 1901<ref>Ottley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 988.</ref> &ndash; 24 Jun, 1904<ref>Ottley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 988.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frederick Robert William Morgan|Frederick R. W. Morgan]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles John Briggs|Charles J. Briggs]]'''|'''[[Naval Intelligence Department (Royal Navy)|Head of Mobilisation Division]]'''<br>24 Dec, 1904<ref>Ottley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/20/65.}}</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Cecil Edward Eden Carey|Cecil E. E. Carey]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Louis Alexander Mountbatten, First Marquess of Milford Haven|H.S.H. Prince Louis of Battenberg]]'''|'''[[Naval Intelligence Department (Royal Navy)|Director of Naval Intelligence]]'''<br>1 Feb, 1905<ref>Ottley Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 988.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Herbert Goodenough King-Hall|Herbert G. King-Hall]]'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts>
 
==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ottley, Charles}}
 
{{CatPerson|UK|1858|1932}}
{{CatBritannia|July, 1871}}
[[Category:Naval Assistant Secretaries to the Committee of Imperial Defence]]
[[Category:Secretaries to the Committee of Imperial Defence]]
{{CatRear|UK}}
{{CatRN}}

Latest revision as of 15:18, 27 March 2025

Rear-Admiral SIR Charles Langdale Ottley, K.C.M.G., C.B., M.V.O., Royal Navy (8 February, 1858 – 24 September, 1932) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

In July, 1871, Ottley was ranked second in order of merit of thirty-five candidates accepted as Naval Cadets following the entrance examinations.[1]

Ottley was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 8 December, 1879.[2]

He was appointed to Vernon on 19 May, 1884 as a torpedo Lieutenant.[3]

Ottley was thanked for assigning a patent to the War Office for "Improvements in Mooring Submarine Mines" without stipulating a reward for himself.[4]

Ottley was appointed Torpedo Lieutenant of the battleship Victoria, flag ship on the Mediterranean Station, on 14 November, 1889.[5]

Ottley was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1892.[6]

Captain

He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1 January, 1899.[7]

On the occasion of King Edward VII's visit to Paris, Ottley was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) on 4 May, 1903.[8]

He was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King on 1 June, 1907, vice Rich.[9]

In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 22 February, 1870, Ottley was placed on the Retired List with permission to assume the rank of Rear-Admiral on 15 June, 1908.[10]

Winston Churchill had evidently offered him a prominent position in the proposed Admiralty War Staff, for Ottley, referring to his "flattering proposal," replied, "I can only say that I shall do exactly what is held to be best for the public interest, I think the fact that I am on the retired list is a very serious disability, and the only justifiable ground for appointing me to such a position would be that no naval officer of the active list could possibly spare enough time from service afloat to do justice to the appointment."[11]

Kathleen Margaret, his widow, died in Bath on 4 February, 1940 aged sixty-seven.[12]

Bibliography

  • "Rear-Admiral Sir C. L. Ottley" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 26 September, 1932. Issue 46248, col A, pg. 17.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Arthur Dodgson 		Captain of H.M. T.B. 80
18 Jul, 1889[13] – 7 Sep, 1889[14] 		Succeeded by
Lewis Bayly
Preceded by
Edward A. Salwey 		Captain of H.M. T.B. 43
6 May, 1892[15] 		Succeeded by
Arthur B. F. Dawson
Preceded by
William H. Hall 		Captain of H.M.S. Vernon
11 Jul, 1893[16] – 22 Aug, 1893[17] 		Succeeded by
Baldwin W. Walker
Preceded by
Frederick S. Vander-Meulen 		Captain of H.M.S. Devastation
5 Dec, 1893[18] – 1894 		Succeeded by
William M. Lang
Preceded by
Joseph Honner 		Captain of H.M.S. Nymphe
11 Jan, 1897[19][20] – 17 Jul, 1899[21] 		Succeeded by
Richard B. Farquhar
Preceded by
? 		Royal Navy Naval Attaché at Tokyo
Jul, 1899[22] – after Apr, 1901[23] 		Succeeded by
Thomas Jackson
Preceded by
Henry B. Jackson 		Royal Navy Naval Attaché at Paris
after Apr, 1901[24] – 24 Jun, 1904[25] 		Succeeded by
Frederick R. W. Morgan
Preceded by
Charles J. Briggs 		Head of Mobilisation Division
24 Dec, 1904[26] 		Succeeded by
Cecil E. E. Carey
Preceded by
H.S.H. Prince Louis of Battenberg 		Director of Naval Intelligence
1 Feb, 1905[27] 		Succeeded by
Herbert G. King-Hall

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "Naval Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Tuesday, Jul 04, 1871; pg. 12; Issue 27106.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 24791. p. 7324. 12 December, 1879.
  3. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1884). p. 249.
  4. ↑ Ottley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 992.
  5. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1891). p. 263.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26309. p. 4187. 22 July, 1892.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27040. p. 84. 6 January, 1899.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27560. p. 3526. 2 June, 1903.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28027. p. 3832. 4 June, 1907.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28150. p. 4555. 23 June, 1908.
  11. ↑ Letter of 13 November, 1911. The National Archives. CAB 1/31. ff. 192-193.
  12. ↑ "Deaths" (Deaths). The Times. Thursday, 8 February, 1940. Issue 48534, col B, p. 1.
  13. ↑ Ottley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 992.
  14. ↑ Ottley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 992.
  15. ↑ Ottley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 992.
  16. ↑ Ottley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 988.
  17. ↑ Ottley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 988.
  18. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1894). p. 214.
  19. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1898). p. 275.
  20. ↑ Ottley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 988.
  21. ↑ Ottley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 988.
  22. ↑ Ottley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 988.
  23. ↑ Ottley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 988.
  24. ↑ Ottley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 988.
  25. ↑ Ottley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 988.
  26. ↑ Ottley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20/65.
  27. ↑ Ottley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 988.

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