Edmund Samuel Poë

Admiral Sir Edmund S.Poë.
Photo: Library of Congress.

Admiral SIR Edmund Samuel Poë, G.C.V.O., K.C.B., Royal Navy (11 September, 1848 – 4 April, 1921) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

Edmund Samuel Poë was born on 11 September, 1848, the younger son of Mr. William Thomas Poë, barrister-at-law, of Glen Ban, Queen's County. There is some confusion of how one pronounces the family name of "Poë". He is claimed to have stated in later life, "I have been sat upon by women and held at arm's length by men, but my name is pronounced p-o-a-y."

Lieutenant & Commander

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 1 June, 1869.

In 1875, Poë was awarded the Royal Humane Society's Bronze Medal for saving life from drowning. The following year, he was awarded a clasp for the medal in recognition of a second feat of bravery in sea rescue.

Poë was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1881.

Captain

Poë was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1888.

He was appointed in command of the armoured cruiser Imperieuse on 10 November, 1890.

As "a mark of Her Majesty's appreciation of the special services rendered by them on the occasion of the lamented death of Colonel His Royal Highness Prince Henry Maurice of Battenberg, K.G." Poë was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) on 11 May, 1896.

He was appointed in command of the battleship Victorious on 8 June, 1897. In October, he assumed command of the first class protected cruiser St. George.

Poë was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to the Queen dated 13 July, 1899, vice Drury. He was appointed in command of the St. George, again as Commodore, Second Class, on 26 October.

He was reappointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp, to King Edward VII, on 25 February, 1901.

Flag Rank

Poë was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 9 September, 1901, vice Lake.

On the occasion of the King's visit to Ireland Poë was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) on 11 August, 1903. Immediately thereafter, Poë ventured south in H.M.S. Empress of India, to be in command of the Second Division of sub-fleet B 1 for the Annual Manoeuvres of 1903, which were to be conducted west of Portugal.

He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 20 February, 1906. On the occasion of the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales (the future King George V and Queen Mary) to India Poë was appointed a Knight Commander in the Royal Victorian Order (K.C.V.O.) dated 19 March.

On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, of the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 26 June, 1908.

Poë was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 30 April, 1910, vice Fanshawe.

He was appointed First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to King George V dated 19 May, 1912, vice Beaumont.

In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 22 February, 1870, Poë was placed on the Retired List on 11 September, 1914.

Bibliography

• "Death of Admiral Sir E. Poë" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 7 April, 1921. Issue 42688, col E, p. 13.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/86.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/39.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/17.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by George L. Atkinson-Willes	Second-in-Command, Home Fleet 1903 – 1904	Succeeded by Command Renamed

Naval Appointments
Preceded by ?	Naval Adviser to the Inspector-General of Fortifications 11 Mar, 1889	Succeeded by Wilmot H. Fawkes
Preceded by William H. May	Captain of H.M.S. Imperieuse 10 Nov, 1890	Succeeded by John M. McQuhae
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Brilliant 11 Jul, 1893 – c. 20 Aug, 1893[Inference]	Succeeded by Arthur C. B. Bromley
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Centurion 14 Feb, 1894	Succeeded by John M. McQuhae
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. St. George 18 Jul, 1894	Succeeded by Edward H. Gamble
Preceded by William H. Hall	Captain of H.M.S. Blenheim 1 Sep, 1894	Succeeded by Francis C. B. Bridgeman
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Victorious 8 Jun, 1897 – 9 Oct, 1897	Succeeded by Anson Schomberg
Preceded by George L. Atkinson as Rear-Admiral Commanding the Training Squadron	Commodore Second Class in Command of the Training Squadron 14 Oct, 1897 – 30 Oct, 1899	Succeeded by the Cruiser Squadron
Preceded by Philip F. Tillard	Captain of H.M.S. St. George 31 Oct, 1899 – 5 Oct, 1900	Succeeded by Alfred L. Winsloe
Preceded by the Training Squadron	Commodore Commanding, Cruiser Squadron 31 Oct, 1899 – 5 Oct, 1900	Succeeded by Alfred L. Winsloe
Preceded by Sir Wilmot H. Fawkes	Rear-Admiral Commanding, Cruiser Squadron 2 Nov, 1904 – Dec, 1904	Succeeded by Formation renamed the First Cruiser Squadron
Preceded by himself, as Rear-Admiral Commanding, Cruiser Squadron	Rear-Admiral Commanding, First Cruiser Squadron Dec, 1904	Succeeded by George Neville
Preceded by Sir George L. Atkinson-Willes	Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station 20 Aug, 1905	Succeeded by Sir George J. S. Warrender, Bart.
Preceded by Sir John Durnford	Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope Station and West Africa Station 20 Apr, 1907 – 20 Aug, 1908	Succeeded by Sir George Le C. Egerton
Preceded by The Hon. Sir Assheton G. Curzon-Howe	Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Station 30 Apr, 1910 – 1 Jul, 1912	Succeeded by Sir A. Berkeley Milne, Bart.
Court Appointments
Preceded by Sir Lewis A. Beaumont	First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp 19 May, 1912	Succeeded by Sir George A. Callaghan