John Kennedy Erskine Baird
Encyclopedia
Admiral Sir John Kennedy Erskine Baird KCB
(16 September 1832 – 8 December 1908) was an officer in the Royal Navy
, who is chiefly remembered for commanding the losing side in the 1888 annual naval manoeuvres.
) and Lady Anne Baird (née Kennedy).
Baird was promoted captain on 16 February 1864. From 8 March 1870 he commanded the screw-corvette Juno on the China station until she paid off at Sheerness on 14 June 1873. He commanded the ironclad battleship Swiftsure
from 1874 to 1877 on the Mediterranean station.
Baird was Naval aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria from February to December 1878. Baird was promoted to rear-admiral on 28 December 1879. Baird was appointed commander of the Pacific Station
on 13 September 1884, and assumed command on 3 November 1884. His flagship was first Swiftsure, and then her sister Triumph
. His flag-lieutenant was Frank A Garforth and his secretary was Henry P. Brenan. His replacement was appointed on 4 July 1885. As of June 1885, his command consisted of: Constance, Heroine, Liffey, Pelican, Sappho, Satellite, Triumph, and Wild Swan.
Baird was promoted to vice-admiral on 18 January 1886. From 1886 to 1887, he was commander-in-chief of the naval reserves with his flag in the ironclad battleship Hercules
.
From 17 April 1888 to 3 May 1890, Baird was commander-in-chief of the Channel Squadron
, with his flag in in the ironclad battleship Northumberland. It was during this time that he commanded the losing side in the 1888 annual manoeuvres. In these manoeuvres, Baird's force of 26 major warships and 12 first class torpedo boats represented the British fleet, and England, Scotland and Wales were considered friendly to the British fleet and hostile to the enemy. Opposing Baird was the 'Achill' fleet of 19 major warships and 12 first class torpedo boats, led by Rear Admiral George Tryon
, and based in Berehaven
on the south-west coast of Ireland and Lough Swilly
on the north coast. All Irish territory was considered hostile to the British fleet and friendly to the enemy. Hostilities broke out at noon on 24 July, and ended at noon on 20 August. At the outset Baird's fleet was concentrated on keeping Tryon's fleet shut up in their base ports. They failed. Both Tryon and his second in command broke the blockade on 4 August, and swooping round the extremities of Ireland, made a descent on British commerce and British ports.
Baird was promoted to admiral on 14 February 1892.
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...
(16 September 1832 – 8 December 1908) was an officer in 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...
, who is chiefly remembered for commanding the losing side in the 1888 annual naval manoeuvres.
Early life
Baird was born on 16 September 1832, the fourth son of Sir David Baird, 2nd Baronet (see Baird BaronetsBaird Baronets
There have been five Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Baird, three in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia and two in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. Three of the creations are extant as of 2010...
) and Lady Anne Baird (née Kennedy).
Naval career
Baird entered the Navy in December 1845. He was promoted to lieutenant on 28 February 1854. On 3 July 1857 he was promoted to commander. In 1858, he commanded the paddle-sloop Devastation on the North America and West Indies station. From 23 December 1859 to August 1863 he commanded the screw gun-vessel Alacrity in the Mediterranean.Baird was promoted captain on 16 February 1864. From 8 March 1870 he commanded the screw-corvette Juno on the China station until she paid off at Sheerness on 14 June 1873. He commanded the ironclad battleship Swiftsure
HMS Swiftsure (1870)
HMS Swiftsure was the lead ship of the Swiftsure class battleships built in the late Victorian era. Her sister-ship was .-Service history:...
from 1874 to 1877 on the Mediterranean station.
Baird was Naval aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria from February to December 1878. Baird was promoted to rear-admiral on 28 December 1879. Baird was appointed commander of the Pacific Station
Pacific Station
The Pacific Station, often referred to as the Pacific Squadron, was one of the geographical divisions into which the Royal Navy divided its worldwide responsibilities...
on 13 September 1884, and assumed command on 3 November 1884. His flagship was first Swiftsure, and then her sister Triumph
HMS Triumph (1870)
HMS Triumph was a broadside ironclad battleship of the Victorian era, the sister-ship of . These two ships comprise the Swiftsure class of 1870....
. His flag-lieutenant was Frank A Garforth and his secretary was Henry P. Brenan. His replacement was appointed on 4 July 1885. As of June 1885, his command consisted of: Constance, Heroine, Liffey, Pelican, Sappho, Satellite, Triumph, and Wild Swan.
Baird was promoted to vice-admiral on 18 January 1886. From 1886 to 1887, he was commander-in-chief of the naval reserves with his flag in the ironclad battleship Hercules
HMS Hercules (1868)
HMS Hercules was a central-battery ironclad of the Royal Navy in the Victorian era, and was the first warship to mount a main armament of calibre guns....
.
From 17 April 1888 to 3 May 1890, Baird was commander-in-chief of the Channel Squadron
Channel Fleet
The Channel Fleet was the Royal Navy formation of warships that defended the waters of the English Channel from 1690 to 1909.-History:The Channel Fleet dates back at least to 1690 when its role was to defend England against the French threat under the leadership of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of...
, with his flag in in the ironclad battleship Northumberland. It was during this time that he commanded the losing side in the 1888 annual manoeuvres. In these manoeuvres, Baird's force of 26 major warships and 12 first class torpedo boats represented the British fleet, and England, Scotland and Wales were considered friendly to the British fleet and hostile to the enemy. Opposing Baird was the 'Achill' fleet of 19 major warships and 12 first class torpedo boats, led by Rear Admiral George Tryon
George Tryon
Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon, KCB was a British admiral who died when his flagship HMS Victoria collided with HMS Camperdown during manoeuvres off Tripoli, Lebanon.-Early life:...
, and based in Berehaven
Castletownbere
Castletownbere is a small town in County Cork in Ireland. It is located on the southwest coast of Ireland, in West Cork, on Berehaven harbour near the entrance to Bantry Bay. It is also known as Castletown Berehaven. The name of the town comes from the no longer extant MacCarty Castle, and not...
on the south-west coast of Ireland and Lough Swilly
Lough Swilly
Lough Swilly in Ireland is a glacial fjord or sea inlet lying between the western side of the Inishowen Peninsula and the Fanad Peninsula, in County Donegal. Along with Carlingford Lough and Killary Harbour it is one of three known glacial fjords in Ireland....
on the north coast. All Irish territory was considered hostile to the British fleet and friendly to the enemy. Hostilities broke out at noon on 24 July, and ended at noon on 20 August. At the outset Baird's fleet was concentrated on keeping Tryon's fleet shut up in their base ports. They failed. Both Tryon and his second in command broke the blockade on 4 August, and swooping round the extremities of Ireland, made a descent on British commerce and British ports.
Baird was promoted to admiral on 14 February 1892.