Jock Slater
Encyclopedia
Admiral Sir John Cunningham Kirkwood "Jock" Slater, GCB
, LVO
, DL
, FRSE
(born 27 March 1938), served as First Sea Lord
, the Chief of the Naval Staff. He was an Equerry
to Queen Elizabeth II
from 1968 to 1971.
Lord Cunningham of Hyndhope
, one of his great nephew's predecessors in the office of First Sea Lord.
His father, a physician and neurologist; his brother, Peter James Bramwell Slater, a biologist; his maternal grandfather Edwin Bramwell (1873–1952), also a physician and neurologist; both of his maternal great-grandfathers, Sir Byrom Bramwell (1847–1931), a physician, and Daniel John Cunningham (1850–1909), an anatomist; and his great-uncles Byrom Stanley Bramwell (1877–1948), an advocate, and John Cunningham (1882–1968), a physician and bacteriologist, were all Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
.
and Sedbergh School
, he joined the Royal Navy
in 1958. He commanded HMS Jupiter
from 1972 to 1973, HMS Kent
from 1976 to 1977 and HMS Illustrious
from 1981 to 1983. He was Assistant Chief of Defence Staff from 1985, Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland
from 1987 and Chief of Fleet Support
from 1989.
In 1991 he became Commander-in-Chief Fleet
and in 1993 Vice Chief of the Defence Staff. He was First Sea Lord
from 1995 to 1998. In this capacity he had to deal with the Strategic Defence Review carried out by the incoming Labour
Government.
of Hampshire
, Director of VT Group
, Director and Senior Military Adviser to Lockheed Martin
UK, chairman of the Executive Committee of the RNLI, vice chairman of the British Forces Foundation and chairman of the Council of Management of the White Ensign Association.
He served as Chairman of the Trustees of the Imperial War Museum
from 2001 to 2006 having first been appointed a Trustee in 1999. He is also a former Chairman of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, LVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, FRSE
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
(born 27 March 1938), served as First Sea Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
, the Chief of the Naval Staff. He was an Equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
to Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
from 1968 to 1971.
Family background
"Jock" Slater was the son of James Kirkwood Slater (FRSE, OBE) and the former Margaret Claire Byrom Bramwell. His maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Cumming Cunningham Bramwell, was the elder sister of Admiral of the FleetAdmiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
Lord Cunningham of Hyndhope
Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope KT, GCB, OM, DSO and two Bars , was a British admiral of the Second World War. Cunningham was widely known by his nickname, "ABC"....
, one of his great nephew's predecessors in the office of First Sea Lord.
His father, a physician and neurologist; his brother, Peter James Bramwell Slater, a biologist; his maternal grandfather Edwin Bramwell (1873–1952), also a physician and neurologist; both of his maternal great-grandfathers, Sir Byrom Bramwell (1847–1931), a physician, and Daniel John Cunningham (1850–1909), an anatomist; and his great-uncles Byrom Stanley Bramwell (1877–1948), an advocate, and John Cunningham (1882–1968), a physician and bacteriologist, were all Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
.
Naval career
Educated at Edinburgh AcademyEdinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy is an independent school which was opened in 1824. The original building, in Henderson Row on the northern fringe of the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the Senior School...
and Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School is a boarding school in Sedbergh, Cumbria, for boys and girls aged 13 to 18. Nestled in the Howgill Fells, it is known for sporting sides, such as its Rugby Union 1st XV.-Background:...
, he joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1958. He commanded HMS Jupiter
HMS Jupiter (F60)
HMS Jupiter was a Batch 3 Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy . She was, like the rest of the class, named after a figure of mythology...
from 1972 to 1973, HMS Kent
HMS Kent (D12)
HMS Kent was a batch-1 County-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She and her sisters were equipped with the SeaSlug Mk-1 medium range surface to air missile SAM system, along with the short-range SeaCat SAM, two double mount 4.5" gun turrets, two single 20mm cannon, ASW torpedo tubes, and a...
from 1976 to 1977 and HMS Illustrious
HMS Illustrious (R06)
HMS Illustrious is the second of three Invincible-class light aircraft carriers built for the Royal Navy in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She is the fifth warship and second aircraft carrier to bear the name Illustrious, and is affectionately known as "Lusty" to her crew...
from 1981 to 1983. He was Assistant Chief of Defence Staff from 1985, Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland
Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland
The Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland is a senior post in the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. It is based at HM Naval Base Clyde and the holder of the post is the Royal Navy’s senior officer in Scotland with representational duties everywhere north of the M4. The...
from 1987 and Chief of Fleet Support
Fourth Sea Lord
The Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Supplies was formerly one of the Naval Lords and members of the Board of Admiralty which controlled the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.-History:...
from 1989.
In 1991 he became Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet is the admiral responsible for the operation, resourcing and training of the ships, submarines and aircraft, and personnel, of the British Royal Navy...
and in 1993 Vice Chief of the Defence Staff. He was First Sea Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
from 1995 to 1998. In this capacity he had to deal with the Strategic Defence Review carried out by the incoming Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
Government.
Later career
Since retirement, his appointments have included Deputy LieutenantDeputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, Director of VT Group
VT Group
VT Group plc was a British defence and services company, formerly known as Vosper Thornycroft. The Company had diversified from shipbuilding into various engineering and support services, becoming involved in many areas of provision through five main operating groups: VT Communications, VT...
, Director and Senior Military Adviser to Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
UK, chairman of the Executive Committee of the RNLI, vice chairman of the British Forces Foundation and chairman of the Council of Management of the White Ensign Association.
He served as Chairman of the Trustees of the Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
from 2001 to 2006 having first been appointed a Trustee in 1999. He is also a former Chairman of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785.