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Baldwin Wake Walker

Admiral Sir Baldwin Wake Walker, 1st Baronet, KCB, CMG (6 January 1802 – 12 February 1876) was Surveyor of the Navy from 1848 to 1861.[1] and was responsible for the Royal Navy's warship construction programme during the 1850s naval arms race and at the time of the introduction of the Ironclad warship; it was his decision to build HMS Warrior.[2] He was created 1st Baronet Wake Walker, of Oakley House in 1856.

Sir Baldwin Wake Walker
Walker in Turkish service, 1840.
Born6 January 1802
Port-e-Vullen, near Ramsey, Isle of Man
Died12 February 1876 (1876-02-13) (aged 74)
Diss, Norfolk
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1812 to 1876
RankRoyal Navy Admiral
Commands heldHMS Vanguard 1836–1838
HMS Queen 1845–1846
HMS Constance 1846–1847
Cape of Good Hope Station 1861–1865
Nore Command 1866–1869
Battles/warsMorea expedition, 1828
Bombardment of Acre, 1840
AwardsKCB
Order of the Iron Crown
Order of St. Anna
Order of the Red Eagle
Other workSurveyor of the Navy, 1848–1861

Early life

Baldwin Wake Walker was the eldest son of John Walker of Whitehaven and Frances, daughter of Captain Drury Wake.[3]

Career

Naval service

Walker entered the Royal Navy in 1812, and was made a Lieutenant in April, 1820. He served 2 years on the Jamaica station, then for 3 years on the coast of South America and the west coast of Africa.

In 1827 he entered service in the Mediterranean aboard HMS Rattlesnake and was first lieutenant of the bomb vessel HMS Aetna at the attack on Morea Castle during the Morea expedition. For this service he received the crosses of the Légion d'honneur and of the Greek Order of the Redeemer.

He saw further service in the Mediterranean aboard the ships HMS Asia, HMS Britannia and HMS Barham, being promoted to Commander in 1834. In that rank he served in HMS Vanguard from 1836 – 1838.[4]

Walker married Mary Catherine Sinclair Worth, daughter of Captain John Worth and Catherine Sinclair, on 9 September 1834.[5]

In 1838 Walker was given special permission of the Admiralty to accept a command in the Turkish Navy, in which he was known as Walker Bey and later as Yavir Pasha. In July 1840 Ahmet Fevzi Paşa, the Capitán-Pasha (the chief admiral of the Turkish fleet), took the fleet to Alexandria and delivered it to Muhammad Ali of Egypt, who then refused to part with it. Walker summoned the Turkish Captains to a Council of War, and proposed a night landing where he would surround the palace, carry off Muhammad Ali, and despatch him to Constantinople. This operation was cancelled due to Muhammad Ali letting the ships go.[6]

While serving with the Turkish Navy he commanded the Turkish squadron at the bombardment of Acre in November 1840, for which service he became a Knight Commander of the Bath on 12 January 1841; he also received the second class of the Austrian Order of the Iron Crown, the Russian Order of St. Anna, and the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle.[3]

Following his return to England in 1845 he commanded HMS Queen as flag-captain to Sir John West at Devonport, and from 1846 – 1847, the frigate HMS Constance in the Pacific.[4]

From 1848 – 1861, he was Surveyor of the Navy (the post being known as Controller of the Navy from 1859) and served as a Juror for the Great Exhibition of 1851. He was created a baronet on 18 July 1856, gaining the title 1st Baronet Wake Walker, of Oakley House,[7] appointed Rear Admiral of the Blue in 1858,[8] and Rear-Admiral of the White in 1861,[9] in which year he was also appointed Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station.[4] He returned to England in 1864, being promoted to vice admiral in 1865 and being appointed Commander-in-Chief, The Nore in 1866.[4] He was promoted to Admiral in 1870.[4]

Surveyor of the Navy

In his capacity as Surveyor of the Navy, Walker specified the requirements that led to the design of the large wooden screw frigates HMS Diadem, HMS Doris, HMS Ariadne, HMS Galatea, HMS Mersey, and HMS Orlando which were known simply as "Walker's Big Frigates". These large vessels were designed to compete with the United States Navy which had decided to build five steam frigates and one steam corvette. The ships had only a short service history as they were both too large for wooden ships and expensive to operate, as they required large crews. It is reported that due to the stresses caused by their powerful engines, Orlando and Mersey were both broken up after less than 20 years service.[10]

When in 1858 the French started building La Gloire, the first armoured iron-hulled ship, the Admiralty was asked what it was doing to match this "new engine of war". Walker replied that he believed iron hulls would never replace wooden ships. After strong representations by Walker and Henry Corry, the Parliamentary under-secretary to the Admiralty, the Board of Admiralty was moved on 22 November 1858 to call for designs for a wooden-hulled, armour-plated warship, whose dimensions were approximately equal to those of La Gloire. Eventually it was decided to construct an iron-hulled ship instead, and HMS Warrior was the result.

Later life

Baldwin Wake Walker died on 12 February 1876 at his house in Diss, Norfolk.[3] He was succeeded as Baronet by his eldest son Baldwin Wake Walker (born 1846–1905).[11] His grandson Sir Frederic Wake-Walker also achieved flag rank and served in both World Wars, playing a leading role in the evacuation of Dunkirk and the hunt for the battleship Bismarck.

See also

  • O'Byrne, William Richard (1849). "Walker, Baldwin Wake" . A Naval Biographical Dictionary . John Murray – via Wikisource.

Notes

  1. ^ Lambert, The Last Sailing Battlefleet, p56
  2. ^ Wilson, Alastair; Joseph F. Callo (2004). Who's who in Naval History: From 1550 to the Present. Routledge. p. 325. ISBN 0-415-30828-3.
  3. ^ a b c Moore, Arthur William (1901). Manx worthies; or, Biographies of notable Manx men and women. S. K. Broadbent & Company, Limited. p. 145.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Biography of Baldwin Wake Walker R.N." William Loney RN – Background. Peter Davis. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  5. ^ "thePeerage.com – Person Page 6230". thePeerage.com. from the original on 18 May 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
  6. ^ "Walker, Baldwin Wake" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  7. ^ "Promotions and Preferments". The Gentleman's Magazine. Printed by F. Jeffries. July 1856.
  8. ^ "Admiralty, 21st January 1858". Bulletins and Other State Intelligence for the year 1858. Compiled and arranged from the official documents published in the London gazette. 1860. p. 326.
  9. ^ "Promotions and Appointments. Royal Navy". The United Service Magazine. 1861. p. 326.
  10. ^ "Walker Screw Frigates". World Naval Ships.com. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  11. ^ Debrett's Baronetage and Knightage 1879. London: Debrett's. 1879. p. 447.

References

Attribution
Military offices
Preceded by
New Post
Controller of the Navy
1859–1861
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope Station
1861–1865
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, The Nore
1866–1869
Succeeded by
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baronet
(of Oakley House)
1856–1876
Succeeded by
Baldwin Wake Walker

baldwin, wake, walker, admiral, baronet, january, 1802, february, 1876, surveyor, navy, from, 1848, 1861, responsible, royal, navy, warship, construction, programme, during, 1850s, naval, arms, race, time, introduction, ironclad, warship, decision, build, warr. Admiral Sir Baldwin Wake Walker 1st Baronet KCB CMG 6 January 1802 12 February 1876 was Surveyor of the Navy from 1848 to 1861 1 and was responsible for the Royal Navy s warship construction programme during the 1850s naval arms race and at the time of the introduction of the Ironclad warship it was his decision to build HMS Warrior 2 He was created 1st Baronet Wake Walker of Oakley House in 1856 Sir Baldwin Wake WalkerWalker in Turkish service 1840 Born6 January 1802Port e Vullen near Ramsey Isle of ManDied12 February 1876 1876 02 13 aged 74 Diss NorfolkAllegianceUnited KingdomService wbr branchRoyal NavyYears of service1812 to 1876RankRoyal Navy AdmiralCommands heldHMS Vanguard 1836 1838HMS Queen 1845 1846HMS Constance 1846 1847Cape of Good Hope Station 1861 1865Nore Command 1866 1869Battles warsMorea expedition 1828Bombardment of Acre 1840AwardsKCBOrder of the Iron CrownOrder of St AnnaOrder of the Red EagleOther workSurveyor of the Navy 1848 1861 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Naval service 2 2 Surveyor of the Navy 3 Later life 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesEarly life EditBaldwin Wake Walker was the eldest son of John Walker of Whitehaven and Frances daughter of Captain Drury Wake 3 Career EditNaval service Edit Walker entered the Royal Navy in 1812 and was made a Lieutenant in April 1820 He served 2 years on the Jamaica station then for 3 years on the coast of South America and the west coast of Africa In 1827 he entered service in the Mediterranean aboard HMS Rattlesnake and was first lieutenant of the bomb vessel HMS Aetna at the attack on Morea Castle during the Morea expedition For this service he received the crosses of the Legion d honneur and of the Greek Order of the Redeemer He saw further service in the Mediterranean aboard the ships HMS Asia HMS Britannia and HMS Barham being promoted to Commander in 1834 In that rank he served in HMS Vanguard from 1836 1838 4 Walker married Mary Catherine Sinclair Worth daughter of Captain John Worth and Catherine Sinclair on 9 September 1834 5 In 1838 Walker was given special permission of the Admiralty to accept a command in the Turkish Navy in which he was known as Walker Bey and later as Yavir Pasha In July 1840 Ahmet Fevzi Pasa the Capitan Pasha the chief admiral of the Turkish fleet took the fleet to Alexandria and delivered it to Muhammad Ali of Egypt who then refused to part with it Walker summoned the Turkish Captains to a Council of War and proposed a night landing where he would surround the palace carry off Muhammad Ali and despatch him to Constantinople This operation was cancelled due to Muhammad Ali letting the ships go 6 While serving with the Turkish Navy he commanded the Turkish squadron at the bombardment of Acre in November 1840 for which service he became a Knight Commander of the Bath on 12 January 1841 he also received the second class of the Austrian Order of the Iron Crown the Russian Order of St Anna and the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle 3 Following his return to England in 1845 he commanded HMS Queen as flag captain to Sir John West at Devonport and from 1846 1847 the frigate HMS Constance in the Pacific 4 From 1848 1861 he was Surveyor of the Navy the post being known as Controller of the Navy from 1859 and served as a Juror for the Great Exhibition of 1851 He was created a baronet on 18 July 1856 gaining the title 1st Baronet Wake Walker of Oakley House 7 appointed Rear Admiral of the Blue in 1858 8 and Rear Admiral of the White in 1861 9 in which year he was also appointed Commander in Chief Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station 4 He returned to England in 1864 being promoted to vice admiral in 1865 and being appointed Commander in Chief The Nore in 1866 4 He was promoted to Admiral in 1870 4 Surveyor of the Navy Edit In his capacity as Surveyor of the Navy Walker specified the requirements that led to the design of the large wooden screw frigates HMS Diadem HMS Doris HMS Ariadne HMS Galatea HMS Mersey and HMS Orlando which were known simply as Walker s Big Frigates These large vessels were designed to compete with the United States Navy which had decided to build five steam frigates and one steam corvette The ships had only a short service history as they were both too large for wooden ships and expensive to operate as they required large crews It is reported that due to the stresses caused by their powerful engines Orlando and Mersey were both broken up after less than 20 years service 10 When in 1858 the French started building La Gloire the first armoured iron hulled ship the Admiralty was asked what it was doing to match this new engine of war Walker replied that he believed iron hulls would never replace wooden ships After strong representations by Walker and Henry Corry the Parliamentary under secretary to the Admiralty the Board of Admiralty was moved on 22 November 1858 to call for designs for a wooden hulled armour plated warship whose dimensions were approximately equal to those of La Gloire Eventually it was decided to construct an iron hulled ship instead and HMS Warrior was the result Later life EditBaldwin Wake Walker died on 12 February 1876 at his house in Diss Norfolk 3 He was succeeded as Baronet by his eldest son Baldwin Wake Walker born 1846 1905 11 His grandson Sir Frederic Wake Walker also achieved flag rank and served in both World Wars playing a leading role in the evacuation of Dunkirk and the hunt for the battleship Bismarck See also EditO Byrne William Richard 1849 Walker Baldwin Wake A Naval Biographical Dictionary John Murray via Wikisource Notes Edit Lambert The Last Sailing Battlefleet p56 Wilson Alastair Joseph F Callo 2004 Who s who in Naval History From 1550 to the Present Routledge p 325 ISBN 0 415 30828 3 a b c Moore Arthur William 1901 Manx worthies or Biographies of notable Manx men and women S K Broadbent amp Company Limited p 145 a b c d e Biography of Baldwin Wake Walker R N William Loney RN Background Peter Davis Retrieved 15 April 2008 thePeerage com Person Page 6230 thePeerage com Archived from the original on 18 May 2008 Retrieved 14 April 2008 Walker Baldwin Wake Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Promotions and Preferments The Gentleman s Magazine Printed by F Jeffries July 1856 Admiralty 21st January 1858 Bulletins and Other State Intelligence for the year 1858 Compiled and arranged from the official documents published in the London gazette 1860 p 326 Promotions and Appointments Royal Navy The United Service Magazine 1861 p 326 Walker Screw Frigates World Naval Ships com Retrieved 15 April 2008 Debrett s Baronetage and Knightage 1879 London Debrett s 1879 p 447 References EditAttribution This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Walker Baldwin Wake Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Military officesPreceded byNew Post Controller of the Navy1859 1861 Succeeded bySir Robert RobinsonPreceded bySir Henry Keppel Commander in Chief Cape of Good Hope Station1861 1865 Succeeded byFrederick MontresorPreceded bySir Charles Talbot Commander in Chief The Nore1866 1869 Succeeded byRichard WarrenBaronetage of the United KingdomNew creation Baronet of Oakley House 1856 1876 Succeeded byBaldwin Wake Walker Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Baldwin Wake Walker amp oldid 1050981474, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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