Edwyn Alexander-Sinclair

Admiral Sir Edwyn Sinclair Alexander-Sinclair, (born Alexander; 12 December 1865 – 13 November 1945) was a Scottish Royal Navy officer, notable for firing the first shots of the Battle of Jutland, and for leading a squadron of light cruisers in the Baltic to support independence of Estonia and Latvia in 1918 to 1919.

Early life and education Sinclair Alexander-Sinclair was born in Malta, the second son of Captain John Hobhouse Inglis Alexander of the Royal Navy, who served as aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria, and Isabella Barbara Hume, daughter of Thomas Cochrane Hume. He succeeded his elder brother in the Southbar property in 1892 and two years later adopted the additional name of Sinclair on succeeding to the estate of Freswick in Caithness.

His paternal grandparents were Boyd Alexander, Lord of Southbar and Ballochmyle, and Sophia Elizabeth Hobhouse, daughter of Sir Benjamin Hobhouse, 1st Baronet and sister of John Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton. His father's elder brother was politician Sir Claud Alexander, 1st Baronet.

Naval career Alexander-Sinclair entered the Royal Navy as cadet in 1879 at the age of 14, becoming a midshipman 2½ years later. Edwyn Sinclair Alexander-Sinclair was first educated at Twyford School He was made lieutenant in 1890, and served as flag-lieutenant to both Admiral Tracey and Admiral Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, serving at the Mediterranean Station from May that year; and after paying her off in January 1904, the despatch vessel until 1905. the flagship of the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.

In 1914, at the start of the First World War, Alexander-Sinclair was captain of the dreadnought , before flying his flag in from 1915 as commodore of the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath for his part in the destruction of Zeppelin L 7 on 4 May 1916. he then commanded the 6th Light Cruiser Squadron, flying his flag in . In November 1918 Alexander-Sinclair was given the honour of leading the surrendered German Fleet into internment at Scapa Flow, commanded the 1st Battle Squadron, Atlantic Fleet from 1922 to 1924. He then served as Commander-in-Chief, China Station from 1925 to 1926, and after promotion to admiral on 4 October 1926, was Commander-in-Chief, The Nore from 1927 to 1930. He retired in 1930.