Nowell Salmon

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Nowell Salmon, (20 February 1835 – 14 February 1912) was a Royal Navy officer. As a junior officer he served in the naval brigade and took part in the Siege of Lucknow during the Indian Mutiny. He was a member of the force defending the Residency when he volunteered to climb a tree near the wall of the Shah Nujeff mosque to observe the fall of shot, despite being under fire himself and wounded in the thigh. He and his colleague, Leading Seaman John Harrison, were awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces for this action.

A few years later Salmon was dispatched from British Honduras (now Belize) to take custody of William Walker, an American citizen who had briefly been president of Nicaragua, but who was now attempting further conquests in Central America. The British Government regarded Walker as a menace to its own affairs in the region. Salmon captured Walker and delivered him to the authorities in Honduras, who promptly had him court-martialed and executed.

Salmon went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station, then Commander-in-Chief, China Station and finally Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.

Early career Salmon was the son of Reverend Henry Salmon, Rector of Swarraton and Emily Salmon (daughter of Admiral William Nowell), Salmon was educated at Marlborough College and joined the Royal Navy as cadet in May 1847. Promoted to midshipman, he was appointed to the second-rate in the Baltic Sea in March 1854 and saw action during the Crimean War.

Salmon took part in the Recapture of Lucknow in March 1858 and was promoted to commander on 22 March 1858. Salmon captured Walker and delivered him to the authorities in Honduras, who promptly had him court-martialed and shot. before becoming commanding officer of the battleship in the Mediterranean Fleet on 28 November 1877.

Senior command

Promoted to rear admiral on 2 August 1879, Salmon became Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station, with his flag in the corvette , in April 1882. he was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 21 June 1887. He went on to be Commander-in-Chief, China Station, with his flag in the armoured cruiser , in December 1887. and became Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth in June 1894. and led Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Review at Spithead on 26 June. He was appointed First and Principal Naval Aide-de-camp to the Queen on 23 August 1897. Promoted to admiral of the fleet on 13 January 1899, he retired in February 1905, died at his home in Southsea on 14 February 1912 and was buried at St Peter's Churchyard in Curdridge.

Family In January 1866 Salmon married Emily Augusta Saunders; they had a son and a daughter.