John Arbuthnot Fisher

Born Jan. 25, 1841, in Ceylon; died July 10, 1920, in London. British admiral (1905). Baron Kilverstone (1909).

Fisher joined the navy in 1854. He served during the Crimean War of 1853–56, the Opium War of 1856–60, and the intervention in Egypt in 1882. He commanded one of the first armored ships. From 1892 to 1897, Fisher was third sea lord and controller of the navy. From 1897 to 1902 he was commander in chief of the North American and West Indies station, as well as of the Mediterranean fleet. In 1902 to 1903 he was second sea lord, and from 1904 to 1910, first sea lord. He played a major role in strengthening the navy on the eve of World War I. From October 1914 to May 1915, Fisher was first sea lord; he retired because of a disagreement over the strategic direction of the Dardanelles Operation of 1915.