Compton Domvile

Admiral Sir Compton Edward Domvile, (10 October 1842 – 19 November 1924) was a distinguished Royal Navy officer in the Edwardian and Victorian eras.

Early life

Compton Domvile was born on 10 October 1842 to Henry Barry Domvile (1813–1843) and Frances Domvile (née Winnington-Ingram) (d 1884). He was educated at the Royal Academy, Gosport.

Career

Early career

Compton Domvile joined the Royal Navy in 1856. for service against piracy.

HMS Dido

He became captain of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich until 19 September 1879,

In October 1881, Dido crossed the Atlantic and joined the North America and West Indies squadron, with Domvile serving as an acting commodore in Jamaica in 1882.

Flag rank

From 1884 to 1886 Domville was the captain of HMS Temeraire and later that year replaced Jackie Fisher as commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean Fleet, then Britain's largest fleet. He was received in audience at Buckingham Palace by King Edward VII on 26 May, departed for the Mediterranean the following week, and took up the position on 4 June. His flagship in the Mediterranean was the newly commissioned battleship HMS Bulwark, on which he had hoisted his flag on 1 May 1902 at Devonport.

In 1903 he was appointed a Knight of the Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, and in 1904 the Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. They had five children: Adelaide Mary Domvile (b 1877, died unmarried) Admiral Sir Barry Edward Domvile, KBE, CB, CMG (1878–1971), who followed his father in the Royal Navy, and after a distinguished career became a leading British fascist. Capt. Archibald Compton Winnington Domvile (19 May 1884 – 1959); Sara Palma Guzman (d. 28 August 1938), daughter of Don Gabriel Palma Guzman, President of the Supreme Court of Chile. They had one daughter, Margaret Domvile (b. 17 May 1916). Georgiana Isabella Francis Domvile (25 May 1888 – 23 Dec. 1967); married Lt.-Col. Dudley George Blois, son of Sir John Ralph Blois, 8th Baronet. They had a son, John, and a daughter, Jane. John became a Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force, and married Elizabeth Catharine Maxwell, daughter of Rear-Adm. Sir Wellwood George Courtenay Maxwell and Elizabeth Cavendish, granddaughter of William George Cavendish, 2nd Baron Chesham and also Sir William Baillie, 1st Baronet. May Louise Domvile (3 Apr 1893 – 25 July 1970). She married Cosmo George Romilly (20 June 1890 – 11 Aug 1915), great grandson of Sir Samuel Romilly and also John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford. He was killed during the First World War, and nine years later married Lt.-Col. Richard Laurence Stapylton Pemberton. Both marriages were without issue.