Sir Edward Seymour | |
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![]() Sir Edward Seymour | |
Born | Kinwarton, Warwickshire | 30 April 1840
Died | 2 March 1929 Maidenhead, Berkshire | (aged 88)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Navy |
Years of service | 1852–1910 |
Rank | Admiral of the Fleet |
Commands | China Station SS Oregon HMS Inflexible HMS Iris HMS Orontes HMS Vigilant HMS Growler HMS Waterman |
Battles/wars | Crimean War Second Opium War Taiping Rebellion Boxer Rebellion |
Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Member of the Order of Merit Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order |
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward Hobart Seymour, GCB, OM, GCVO, PC (30 April 1840 – 2 March 1929) was a Royal Navy officer. As a junior officer he served in the Black Sea during the Crimean War. He then took part in the sinking of the war-junks, the Battle of Canton and the Battle of Taku Forts during the Second Opium War and then saw action again at the Battle of Cixi during the Taiping Rebellion.
Seymour went on to be Second-in-Command of the Channel Squadron and then Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves. After that he became Commander-in-Chief, China Station. During the Boxer Rebellion, he led an expedition of 2,000 sailors and marines from Western and Japanese warships to relieve the besieged diplomatic legations in Peking. The expedition was defeated by Chinese and Boxer forces and had to return to Tianjin. Although the mission had failed, when Seymour arrived back at Portsmouth he and his men were welcomed by thousands of people lining the beach and pier.