Henry Vaughan Markham

Sir Henry Vaughan Markham (4 February 1897 – 14 December 1946) was a British civil servant who held the position of Permanent Secretary of the Admiralty from 1940 to 1946.

Family and education Markham was born in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, to John Markham, a bank manager for the Lincoln & Lindsey Bank, and his wife Elizabeth.

He was educated at Colet House school in Rhyl and Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

Career During the First World War, Markham served with the Royal Garrison Artillery on the Western Front and was awarded the Military Cross.

In December 1940 Markham replaced Sir Archibald Carter as Permanent Secretary of the Admiralty, a position he held throughout the Second World War and until he was compelled to step back from his duties in October 1946 owing to ill health.

Honours Markham was awarded the Military Cross (MC) in 1919 and was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in 1941.