Sir Charles Edmund Kingsmill | The Canadian Encyclopedia

Article

Sir Charles Edmund Kingsmill

Sir Charles Edmund Kingsmill, naval officer, public servant (b at Guelph, Canada W 7 July 1855; d at Portland, Ont 15 July 1935). He joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman in 1869, served in the Sudan in 1884 and as British vice-consul and agent at Zeyla, Aden.

Kingsmill, Sir Charles Edmund

Sir Charles Edmund Kingsmill, naval officer, public servant (b at Guelph, Canada W 7 July 1855; d at Portland, Ont 15 July 1935). He joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman in 1869, served in the Sudan in 1884 and as British vice-consul and agent at Zeyla, Aden. He rose to captain by 1898 and subsequently commanded ships on the Australia, China and Home stations. In 1908 he retired from the Royal Navy as a rear-admiral and took charge of the Canadian Marine Service. He played a prominent role in the founding of the Royal Canadian Navy in 1910, and, as vice-admiral, became the first director of the Naval Service. He commanded the RCN throughout WWI and was promoted admiral in 1917.