View source for William Spencer Leveson-Gower, Fourth Earl Granville

[[Vice-Admiral (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral]] {{RIGHTHON}} '''William Spencer Leveson-Gower''', Fourth Earl Granville, K.G., K.C.V.O., C.B., D.S.O., Royal Navy (11 July, 1880 &ndash; 25 June, 1953) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]].

==Life & Career==
Leveson-Gower gained three months' time on passing out of {{UK-1Britannia}}.  His first naval appointment was to {{UK-Narcissus}} on the [[China Station]], dated 15 June, 1896.  This lasted until he was ordered home to join {{UK-Dolphin}} on 25 July 1899, but this was swiftly cancelled in favour of {{UK-Cleopatra}} of the [[Training Squadron (Royal Navy)|Training Squadron]] on 29 July.  At the end of October 1899, he was sent to join {{UK-1Cambrian}}.<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>

On 6 December 1901 he was appointed to {{UK-Scout}} in the Mediterranean.

Leveson-Gower was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 26 June, 1902.  On 1 August, 1902 Leveson-Gower was appointed to {{UK-1Hood}} but was almost immediately siphoned off to the {{UK-Harrier|f=t}} for special service in the Red Sea.  This encompassed some anti-slaving patrol work, as in November, he was reported to be in command of a slaving dhow called H.M.S. ''Irrepressible''.  In May, 1903 the British Ambassador in Constantinople wrote that "it is evident that Lt. Leveson-Gower acted not only with ability and determination in his naval capacity, but with such tact & judgment that such as to avoid arousing local susceptibilities, while inflicting a severe [illeg] on the pirates & on the Turkish Authorities."<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>

On 9 July 1903, Leveson-Gower left Aden for home, arriving 27 July in the grips of a fever which left him confined to bed.  As he returned to health, he provided a useful report on the interior of Yemen.<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>

Judged fit on 10 November, on 2 December 1903 Leveson-Gower was appointed to the {{UK-Monmouth|f=t}} of the {{UK-CS}}, but he was ordered home at the end of January, 1904.  On 25 February, he was appointed to the {{UK-1Crescent|f=t}}.  {{UK-1Crescent}} paid off on 31 May, 1907 and on 16 July, Leveson-Gower received his first command appointment to {{UK-Coquette}}.  He was her captain until he was appointed to the {{UK-Bat|f=t}} on 10 January, 1910.<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>{{NLApr10|p. 282}}

Leveson-Gower was superseded in {{UK-Bat}} on 13 May 1910.  On 3 June, 1910 he was appointed in command of {{UK-Liffey}}.<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>

Leveson-Gower was appointed to the {{UK-Nymphe|f=t}} on 16 May, 1911, to take command upon her commissioning.  Sometime later that year, he was cautioned to be more careful following an accident involving one of her guns.<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>

On 10 June, 1913, {{UK-Nymphe}} collided with {{UK-Goldfinch}} and {{UK-Sheldrake}}.  Leveson-Gower was told he should keep an anchor watch set when the weather was turning sour.  He was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1913 and left {{UK-Nymphe}} when he was named to command {{UK-1Comet|f=t}} on 18 August, 1913.<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>

==Great War==
Leveson-Gower was transferred to command the {{UK-Marmion|f=c}} around August, 1915, operating as part of the newly-created {{UK-DF|11}}.

On 15 March 1916, Leveson-Gower was reported sick in hospital.  Lieutenant-Commander [[Edward Brooke]] was ordered to temporarily replace him in command of {{UK-Marmion}}.  This apparently lasted until 4 May when Leveson-Gower likely resumed command.  He finally was superseded by [[Herbert Inglis Nigel Lyon]] on 25 May, 1917.<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>

Leveson-Gower was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1918.<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>

==Post-War==
Leveson-Gower was appointed in command of the {{UK-Stuart|f=t}} on 1 January, 1919.{{NLFeb19|p. 911''a''}}

Leveson-Gower was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 10 October, 1929, vice [[Roger Roland Charles Backhouse|Backhouse]], promoted to the rank of {{ViceRN}}.{{Gaz|33542|6476|11 October, 1929}}

He was promoted to the rank of {{ViceRN}} on 8 May, 1935, vice [[Hugh Justin Tweedie|Tweedie]], and was placed on the Retired List on 9 May.{{Gaz|34159|3048|10 May, 1935}}

In 1937, Leveson-Gower reported that he was serving under the Crown as Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, to date 1 October, 1937.

==World War II==
There is no indication in the one Service Record consulted that Leveson-Gower was considered for service.

==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
* [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_rv=simple&_q=ADM+William+Spencer+Leveson-Gower Service Records]
*"The Earl Granville" (Obituaries).  ''The Times''.  Friday, 26 June, 1953.  Issue '''52658''', col E, pg. 8.
{{refend}}

<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Henry Francis Howard Wakefield|Henry F. H. Wakefield]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Coquette (1897)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Coquette'']]'''<br>16 Jul, 1907<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>{{NLJan10|p. 295}} &ndash; 10 Jan, 1910<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Maurice Crause Bomford|Maurice C. Bomford]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Eric Quintin Carter|Eric Q. Carter]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Bat (1896)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Bat'']]'''<br>10 Jan, 1910<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>{{NLApr10|p. 282}} &ndash; 13 May, 1910<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur Henniker-Heaton|Arthur Henniker-Heaton]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Hugh Bainbridge (b)|John H. Bainbridge]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Liffey (1904)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Liffey'']]'''<br>3 Jun, 1910<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>{{NLApr10|p. 282}} &ndash; 16 May, 1911<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[George Osborne Hewett|George O. Hewett]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Nymphe (1911)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Nymphe'']]'''<br>16 May, 1911<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>{{NLAug13|p. 350}} &ndash; 18 Aug, 1913<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Richard Matthew King|Richard M. King]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Kerrison Kiddle|Kerrison Kiddle]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Comet (1910)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Comet'']]'''<br>18 Aug, 1913<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>{{NLApr15|p. 393''b''}} &ndash; Aug, 1915<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>{{INF}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Hugh Trevor Prichard|Hugh T. Prichard]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Hugh Trevor Prichard|Hugh T. Prichard]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Marmion (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Marmion'']]'''<br>Aug, 1915{{NLDec16|p. 396''aa''}} &ndash; 25 May, 1917<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Edward Brooke|Edward Brooke]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M.S. Valkyrie (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Valkyrie'']]'''<br>28 May, 1917<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>{{NLNov17|p. 398''q''}} &ndash; 24 Oct, 1917<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Aubrey Thomas Tillard|Aubrey T. Tillard]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M.S. Scott (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Scott'']]'''<br>29 Jan, 1918<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>{{NLNov17|p. 398''q''}} &ndash; 15 Aug, 1918<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''Vessel Lost'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Anselan John Buchanan Stirling|Anselan J. B. Stirling]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Saumarez (1916)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Saumarez'']]'''<br>12 Oct, 1918<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>{{NLNov17|p. 398''q''}} &ndash; 1 Jan, 1919<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Lewis Gonne Eyre Crabbe|Lewis G. E. Crabbe]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Anselan John Buchanan Stirling|Anselan Stirling]]'''|'''[[Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Captain (D), Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla]]'''<br>12 Oct, 1918<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref> &ndash; 1 Jan, 1919<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Percival Henry Gwynne James|Percival H. G. James]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Lewis Gonne Eyre Crabbe|Lewis G. E. Crabbe]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Stuart (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Stuart'']]'''<br>1 Jan, 1919<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>{{NLFeb19|p. 911''a''}} &ndash; 5 Jan, 1921<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Albert Fremantle|Charles A. Fremantle]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Roger L'Estrange Murray Rede|Roger L'E. M. Rede]]'''<br><small>as '''Commander (D), Sixth Destroyer Flotilla'''</small>|'''[[Sixth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Captain (D), Sixth Destroyer Flotilla]]'''<br>1 Jan, 1919<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>{{NLJan20|p. 868}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Albert Fremantle|Charles A. Fremantle]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Denis Granville Thynne|Denis G. Thynne]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Woolwich (1912)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Woolwich'']]'''<br>13 Jan, 1922<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>{{NLJan23|p. 845}} &ndash; 4 Apr, 1924<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[George William McOran Campbell|George W. McO. Campbell]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Cornwall (1926)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Cornwall'']]'''<br>11 Jul, 1927{{NLFeb29|p. 227}}<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref> &ndash; Jun, 1929<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur Ninian Dowding|Arthur N. Dowding]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Theodore John Hallett|Theodore J. Hallett]]'''|'''[[Coast of Scotland Station|Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland]]'''<br>6 Jul, 1931<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref> &ndash; 12 Jul, 1933<ref>Leveson-Gower Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/178.|D7603430}} f. 182.</ref><ref>Superseded that day.  Hardman-Jones Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46.|D7603658}} f. 152.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Everard John Hardman-Jones|Everard J. Hardman-Jones]]'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts> 

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leveson-Gower, William Spencer}}

{{CatPerson|UK|1880|1953}}
{{CatBritannia|January, 1894}}
{{CatVice|UK}}
{{CatInterpreter|UK|Arabic}}
{{CatRN}}