Difference between revisions of "Charles Edward Madden, First Baronet"

From The Dreadnought Project
Jump to: navigation, search
(Made Changes.)
(Update appts)
 
(144 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
{{FleetRN}} S<small>IR</small> '''Charles Edward Madden''', First Baronet, O.M., G.C.B., G.C.V.O., K.C.M.G. ([[5 September]], [[1862]] &ndash; [[5 June]], [[1935]]) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]] during the [[First World War]].
+
[[File:Madden, NPG x181639.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles E. Madden, Bart.<br><small>Photograph: By courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London.</small>]]
  
−
==Early Life and Career==
+
{{FleetRN}} {{SIR}} '''Charles Edward Madden, First Baronet,''' G.C.B., O.M., G.C.V.O., K.C.M.G., D.C.L., L.L.D., Royal Navy (5 September, 1862 &ndash; 5 June, 1935) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]] during the [[First World War]].
−
Madden was born at Brompton, Gillingham, Kent, on 5 September 1862, the second son of Captain John William Madden of the 4th (King's Own) regiment and his wife, Emily, second daughter of John Busby, of Kingstown; he was descended from a long line of Anglo-Irish families. He entered the Britannia as a naval cadet in 1875 and on promotion to midshipman in 1877 was sent to the Alexandra, the flagship of Geoffrey Hornby in the Mediterranean. In 1880 he went to the Ruby, a corvette in the East Indies squadron, for two and a half years, being promoted sub-lieutenant in her in 1881.
+
  
−
Soon after promotion to lieutenant in 1884 Madden decided to specialize in torpedoes and spent two years in the torpedo school Vernon with an additional six months as staff officer of that establishment. In 1892 he was appointed torpedo lieutenant of the Royal Sovereign, flagship of the channel squadron, and in 1893 resumed his post as staff officer of the Vernon until promoted commander in 1896. After three years at sea as commander of the cruiser Terrible and the battleship Caesar he returned to the Vernon in 1899 for a further two years, being promoted captain in June 1901. A year later he became, for two years, flag captain in the Good Hope (cruiser squadron) to Admiral Wilmot Hawksworth Fawkes, who had been his captain in the Terrible and had since been naval private secretary to the first lord. During this service he took Joseph Chamberlain on his memorable visit to South Africa at the end of 1902. He married on 28 June 1905 Constance Winifred (d. 1964), third and youngest daughter of Sir Charles Cayzer, first baronet, and sister of Countess Jellicoe; and they had two sons and four daughters.
+
==Early Life & Career==
 +
Madden was born at Brompton, Gillingham, Kent, 5 September, 1862, the second son of Captain John William Madden, of the Fourth (King's Own) Regiment, by his wife, Emily, second daughter of John Busby, of Kingstown; he was descended from a long line of Anglo-Irish families. He entered the [[H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship)|''Britannia'']] as a naval cadet on 15 January, 1875<ref name=Record83>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42}}.  p. 83.</ref> and on promotion to {{midRN}} in 1877 was sent to the ''Alexandra'', the Flagship of (Sir) [[Geoffrey Phipps Hornby|Geoffrey Hornby]], in the Mediterranean, and served in her throughout that famous command.
  
−
In February 1905 Captain [[Henry Bradwardine Jackson|H. B. Jackson]] was brought by Lord Selborne from the command of the Vernon to the Admiralty as third sea lord and controller. Jackson was the greatest scientific naval officer of his generation, and asked for Madden, now a leading torpedo specialist, to be his naval assistant. It was the time of the great reforms of Sir John Fisher in fleet redistribution, dockyard administration, and shipbuilding policy, and Madden soon became one of his most trusted instruments in carrying them out. Fisher had already, in the previous October, named Madden to Lord Selborne as one of the ‘five best brains in the navy below the rank of admiral’ and in December 1904 secured his appointment as a member of the epoch-making ships design committee which produced the Dreadnought and Invincible designs for battleships and armoured cruisers (later styled battle cruisers). A year later he made Madden his own naval assistant, a post which he held until August 1907. During those stormy years Madden's sound judgement and cool common sense were of the utmost value to his great chief. He was then glad to get to sea again, this time as captain of the Dreadnought herself, and as chief of staff to Sir Francis Bridgeman, commander-in-chief of the Home Fleet. In December 1908 he was brought back to Whitehall, first as naval private secretary to Reginald McKenna until January 1910 and then as fourth sea lord until December 1911.
+
In 1880 he went to the {{UK-1Ruby}}, a corvette in the East Indies Squadron, for two and a half years, being promoted {{SubRN}} in her in 1881. He was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} with seniority of 27 July, 1884.{{Gaz|25383|3485|1 August, 1884}}  Soon after promotion to {{LieutRN}} in 1884 he decided to specialize in torpedo and spent two years in the [[H.M.S. Vernon (Torpedo Training School)|''Vernon'']] torpedo school with an additional six months as staff officer of that establishment.
  
−
Madden had reached flag rank in April 1911 with unusually short sea service as a post captain, and only fourteen months' fleet experience, but he was now to be at sea continuously for over eleven years as a flag officer in the main British fleet, including the whole period of the First World War. He commanded the first division, Home Fleet (flag in the St Vincent) during 1912, the 3rd cruiser squadron (flag in the Antrim) during 1913, and then the 2nd cruiser squadron (flag in the Shannon) until the eve of the outbreak of war. When Admiral Sir J. R. Jellicoe was appointed to take over the command of the Grand Fleet he asked for his wife's brother-in-law, Madden, who had been designated to rejoin the Board of Admiralty as third sea lord and controller, to accompany him as chief of staff. Madden was accordingly sent to the Iron Duke, Jellicoe's flagship, on 4 August 1914 and remained in her until Jellicoe became first sea lord in November 1916, having been promoted acting vice-admiral in June 1915 and confirmed in that rank immediately after the battle of Jutland. In Jellicoe's Jutland dispatch of 18 June 1916 Madden's brilliant work as his chief of staff was recorded thus:
+
On 7 July 1887, he was loaned to command the {{UK-TB72|f=t}}  for manoeuvres.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence". ''The Times''. Saturday, 2 July, 1887. Issue '''32114''', col C, p. 12.</ref>
−
Throughout a period of twenty-one months of war his services have been of inestimable value. His good judgment, his long experience in fleets, special gift for organization, and his capacity for unlimited work, have all been of the greatest assistance to me, and have relieved me of much of the anxiety inseparable from the conduct of the fleet during the war. In the stages leading up to the fleet action and during and after the action he was always at hand to assist, and his judgment never at fault. I owe him more than I can say. (Jellicoe Papers, 1.307)
+
−
On the change of chief command in 1916 Madden was appointed to the command of the 1st battle squadron, as second in command of the fleet, with the acting rank of admiral (flag in the Marlborough and later in the Revenge), and retained it until April 1919, having been confirmed as admiral in February of that year. When Sir David Beatty hauled down his flag as commander-in-chief of the Grand Fleet and the war organization of the navy was broken up, Madden was appointed to the command of the newly constituted Atlantic Fleet (flag in the Queen Elizabeth) which he held from 1919 to 1922.
+
  
−
In the autumn of 1919 Madden was created a baronet and granted £10,000 by a vote of parliament, and on finally coming ashore in August 1922 he received a letter of appreciation from the Board of Admiralty for ‘the manner in which he exercised command of the Atlantic Fleet and for his services to the Royal Navy and to the Empire’. He was at once appointed first and principal naval aide-de-camp to the king and was promoted admiral of the fleet in July 1924. He served in 1923–4 as chairman of the committee on the functions and training of Royal Marines, and in 1925, under the chairmanship of Lord Chelmsford, on that for the list of executive officers of the navy. He then retired to Broadstone, Forest Row, Sussex, until July 1927, when, on the recommendation of W. C. Bridgeman he was selected to succeed Lord Beatty as first sea lord. Two years later he would have been placed on the retired list, but, in order to retain him in office, Bridgeman procured a special order in council to secure his remaining admiral of the fleet on the active list supernumerary to establishment, so long as he held appointment as first sea lord.
+
In 1892 he was appointed Torpedo Lieutenant of the ''Royal Sovereign'', Flagship of the Channel Squadron, and in 1893 resumed his post as staff officer of the ''Vernon''. He was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1896.{{Gaz|26757|3978|10 July, 1896}}  After three years at sea as commander of the cruiser {{UK-Terrible}} and the {{UK-Caesar|f=t}} he returned to the ''Vernon'' in 1899 for a further two years.
  
−
Madden's career had been closely linked with that of Jellicoe since the time of their work together on the ships design committee, and his marriage to Jellicoe's sister-in-law, but it was also believed, at least by Sir Roger Keyes, that Madden could be relied on to be loyal to Beatty and so bring an end to ‘the Jellicoe vs. Beatty “talk”’ (Keyes Papers, 2.267–8). Years later, however, when Madden had frustrated Keyes's ambitions, the latter asserted to Dudley Pound that he had been persuaded to support Madden's appointment against his better judgement, and that Beatty had had ‘grave misgivings, but acted on the advice you had given and bitterly regretted it for the rest of his life’ (ibid., 3.34). Keyes is a bad witness, but Vice-Admiral W. H. Kelly had concern at the time of Madden's appointment that he ‘was too little human, as far as the Service is concerned, and I don't think he would carry any guns at all vis-à-vis with the Politicians’. (ibid., 2.183–4)
+
==Captain==
 +
Madden was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1901.{{Gaz|27335|4780|19 July, 1901}}  He was temporarily reappointed to ''Vernon'' on the same day. On 29 October Captain Robinson wrote of him: "Excellent executive officer & torpedo specialist. Would make an excellent Flag Captain."  On 13 February, 1902, he was appointed to [[H.M.S. Renown (1895)|''Renown'']], flagship in the Mediterranean, for duty with torpedo boat destroyers on that station. He was reappointed to H.M.S. ''Orion'' in that capacity from 1 April to 7 August.  
  
−
Service politics at the time were notoriously bitchy, but it is true that Madden, lacking Beatty's standing with the British public and aristocracy, was unable to sustain Beatty's valiant defence of the naval estimates at a time of tremendous financial difficulty when Winston Churchill, as chancellor, reopened the question of naval procurement as part of his defence of the gold standard.
+
On 5 September he was appointed to H.M.S. ''Duke of Wellington'' for command of the new [[Armoured Cruiser|armoured cruiser]] [[H.M.S. Good Hope (1901)|''Good Hope'']], which he commissioned on 8 November as flagship of Rear-Admiral [[Wilmot Hawkesworth Fawkes|Wilmot H. Fawkes]].<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 8 September, 1902.  Issue '''36867''', col E, p. 8.</ref>  During this service he took the Colonial Secretary, Joseph Chamberlain, on a visit to South Africa at the end of 1902.  On the occasion of the King's visit to Ireland Madden was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) on 11 August, 1903.{{Gaz|27586|5058|11 August, 1903}}
  
−
Even more important than the financial crisis was the need to address the diplomatic one developing between Britain and the United States over naval arms, and over the rights of belligerents to employ naval blockade in the event of war. Having failed at the Paris peace conference to persuade the British government to abandon its definition of maritime rights, it was a major American preoccupation to ensure that Britain could not employ naval force to restrict the growth of American trade. When Madden came to the Admiralty the abortive 1927 Geneva disarmament conference was in session, and he was still in office when Ramsay MacDonald's Labour administration invited the naval powers to meet in London in 1930 to extend the principles of naval arms limitations to cruisers. Limitation in cruiser numbers, besides affecting British trade defence, was also seen as a means of limiting Britain's capacity to blockade neutral commerce.
+
Rear-Admiral Fawkes wrote of Madden in October, 1904: "Has all the high qualifications for command, knowledge, temper, tact, breadth of view, health, & is looked up to by every officer & man in the ship."  He gave up command of ''Good Hope'' on 5 November and on 11 November was appointed to the Admiralty for committee work; the [[Committee on Designs]].  From 27 December to 9 January, 1905, he commanded [[H.M.S. Majestic (1895)|H.M.S. ''Majestic'']], and on 7 February he returned to the Admiralty as [[Naval Assistant to the Controller|Naval Assistant]] to the [[Third Sea Lord|Third Sea Lord and Controller]], Captain [[Henry Bradwardine Jackson|Henry B. Jackson]].  He remained with Jackson until 20 December, when he became [[Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord]], [[John Arbuthnot Fisher, First Baron Fisher|Sir John A. Fisher]].  He retained this position until 12 August, 1907.  On the occasion of the King's inspection of the Home Fleet he was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) on 3 August.{{Gaz|28048|5390|6 August, 1907}} 
  
−
Austin Chamberlain, the Conservative foreign secretary, and Winston Churchill agreed that it would be an empty, and possibly dangerous, gesture to defend British claims to belligerent rights against American objection. The prime minister, Stanley Baldwin, would only appoint Madden to the committee of imperial defence sub-committee on belligerent rights as an ‘expert assessor’. Madden was more effective than anticipated in defending the navy's position, however, and when in October 1927 the report was presented he refused to agree with either the majority or minority reports. Colonel Maurice Hankey, secretary to the committee of imperial defence and to the cabinet, and a stout defender of British naval strategy, recorded Madden's objection in any circumstances to submitting belligerent rights to compulsory arbitration.
+
He was appointed Captain of {{UK-Dreadnought|f=p}} on 12 August, 1907,<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref> and Chief of the Staff to Vice-Admiral [[Francis Charles Bridgeman Bridgeman|Sir Francis C. B. Bridgeman]], Commander-in-Chief of the [[Home Fleet (Royal Navy)|Home Fleet]].  On 1 December, 1908, he returned to the Admiralty for Committee work, and on 12 December he was appointed [[Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty|Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty]], [[Reginald McKenna]].  In Madden's service record, Bridgeman noted: "This offr. has no defects; his zeal & judgement are both excellent; his physical qualities are all that could be desired, & he has been the best Flag Capt. & Ch. of Staff an Admiral could possibly wish for.  Strongly recom<sup><u>d</u></sup> him for advanc<sup><u>t</u></sup>."
  
−
These stalling tactics left it to the Labour administration to resolve the crisis in Anglo-American affairs, and it did so by agreeing at the London naval conference to cuts in British cruiser programmes, from the seventy cruisers wanted by the Admiralty to fifty, with an 8 inch calibre and 10,000 ton limit which suited American interests in the Pacific. This surrender was largely hypothetical as Beatty's cruiser programme, abandoned under pressure by Churchill, had no chance of being revived by Ramsay MacDonald. Madden finally retired from the board and the active list in July 1930.
+
When discussing the composition of a new Board of Admiralty in 1909, Fisher wrote to McKenna:
  
−
Madden was awarded numerous honours and decorations. He was mentioned in dispatches for service at Suez in 1883, and was appointed CVO in 1907, KCB in January 1916, and KCMG for his services at Jutland. He received the rank of commander of the Légion d'honneur. The Russian order of St Anne, the military order of Savoy, and the Japanese grand cordon of the Rising Sun were conferred upon him in 1917. He was admitted to the rank of grand officer of the Légion d'honneur in 1918, and at the end of the war he was appointed GCB and given the Belgian order of Leopold, the French Croix de Guerre (bronze palms), and the Chinese order of the Striped Tiger. He was appointed GCVO in 1920 and a member of the Order of Merit in 1931. The honorary degree of LLD was conferred upon him by Cambridge University in 1919, and that of DCL by Oxford University in 1928.
+
<blockquote>I still cling to Madden as Controller, and Jellicoe is in full accord.  Briggs, the only [other] possible, is not to be compared with Madden and would be nowhere for months!  simply an automaton signing papers!  Besides, I don't see how you are going to get rid of Winsloe so early as January, so the Fourth Sea Lord would not be vacant for Madden.<ref>''Fear God and Dread Nought''. '''I'''. pp. 281-282.</ref></blockquote>
  
−
Madden acquired during his long career an intimate knowledge of every detail of his profession and was universally esteemed as a man upon whom complete reliance could be placed in any task which he was set. His manner was modest and unassuming; he was popular and an excellent host: he had no enemies, but did not easily make friends. The parts which fell to him during the First World War he played to perfection. As chief of staff to Jellicoe he was responsible for much of the organization of the fleet, and by the care and tact with which he carried out his chief's instructions he contributed largely to its efficiency. While in the closest confidential intimacy with Jellicoe, he was more an interpreter of his views than a contributor to their formation. As second in command to Beatty, while kept fully informed of all developments and consulted on major problems, he was not a man to put forward or insist on strong views of his own, and difficulties which might have arisen had he been of less loyal personality or more ambitious character were non-existent, although he was over eight years older than Beatty.
+
On 1 January, 1910, Madden was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to King Edward VII, vice [[David Richard Beatty, First Earl Beatty|Beatty]].{{Gaz|28325|30|4 January, 1910}}  He was appointed [[Fourth Sea Lord]] on 25 January.
  
−
With hindsight, Madden's insensitivity in early 1919 to the desire of hostilities-only ratings to return to their civilian lives, and as first sea lord his resistance to the Labour administration's attempts to democratize the officer-cadet intake, may be judged more harshly than his limited success in defending the navy's budget and strategic role. Beatty had learned before the war when he was naval secretary to Churchill, the first lord, that ‘You have to have a bloody awful row with Winston once a month and then you are all right’ (S. Roskill, Admiral of the Fleet Earl Beatty, 1980, 58), but Madden was more of an accommodating personality, and did not feel justified on constitutional grounds in going to the length of resignation as a protest at budget cuts. If he had, it might not have had much political impact. Strategically, reconciliation of differences with the United States was worth almost any cost.
+
==Flag Rank==
 +
Madden was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 12 April, 1911.{{Gaz|28485|2967|14 April, 1911}}  He had had unusually short sea service as a post-captain, and only fourteen months' fleet experience, but he was now to be at sea continuously for over eleven years as a flag officer in the main British Fleet, including the whole period of the war of 1914–1918.  This succession of sea-roving commands started with him command the first division, Home Fleet from flagship {{UK-StVincent}} during 1912, the {{UK-CS|3}} from {{UK-Antrim}} during 1913, and then, from 19 December, 1913, the {{UK-CS|2}} from {{UK-Shannon}}.
  
−
In his private life Madden was a devout churchman and a thorough sportsman, and was devoted to his family. During his retirement he was greatly interested in local affairs and gave much time to support of the British Legion. He died at 29 Wimpole Street, St Marylebone, London, on 5 June 1935, and was succeeded as second baronet by his elder son, Charles Edward Madden (1906–2001).
+
In May, 1914, it was announced that in August Madden would succeed Rear-Admiral [[Archibald Gordon Henry Wilson Moore|A. G. H. W. Moore]] as [[Third Sea Lord]].<ref>"Flag Appointments" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Friday, 15 May, 1914. Issue '''40524''', col C, p. 8.</ref>  He turned over his command to Rear-Admiral the Honourable [[Somerset Arthur Gough-Calthorpe|Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe]] on 29 July at Chatham,<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 30 July, 1914.  Issue '''40589''', col B, p. 4.</ref> and was appointed to ''President'' for Special Service at the Admiralty.<ref name=Record83/>
  
−
[[Category:1862 births|Madden]]
+
==Great War==
−
[[Category:1935 deaths|Madden]]
+
When Admiral Sir J. R. (afterwards Earl) Jellicoe was appointed to take over the command of the [[Grand Fleet]] he asked for his wife's brother-in-law, Madden, who had been designated to rejoin the Board of Admiralty as third sea lord and controller, to accompany him as chief of staff. Madden was accordingly sent to the {{UK-IronDuke}} (Jellicoe's flagship) on 4 August 1914 and remained in her until Jellicoe became First Sea Lord in November 1916, having been promoted acting {{ViceRN}} in June 1915 and confirmed in that rank on 10 June, 1916.{{GazSup|29621|5828|13 June, 1916}}  In Jellicoe's Jutland dispatch of 18 June 1916, Madden's brilliant work as his Chief of Staff was recorded thus: "Throughout a period of twenty-one months of war his services have been of inestimable value. His good judgment, his long experience in fleets, special gift for organization, and his capacity for unlimited work, have all been of the greatest assistance to me, and have relieved me of much of the anxiety inseparable from the conduct of the fleet during the war. In the stages leading up to the fleet action and during and after the action he was always at hand to assist, and his judgment never at fault. I owe him more than I can say."  During his time as Chief of the Staff, Madden went to sea in command, for example taking the First Battle Squadron for exercises west of the Orkneys on 23 September, 1915, and again on the 27th.<ref>Commander Matthew Best's notebook entries for 23 September, 27 September, 1915.  Liddle Collection.  University of Leeds.  RNMN/BEST.  Box 1.  Volume III.</ref>  On 1 January, 1916, he was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.).{{GazSup|29423|79|31 December, 1915}}
−
[[Category:Personalities|Madden]]
+
 
−
[[Category:Commanders of the British First Battle Squadron|Madden]]
+
On 15 September he was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (K.C.M.G.) for his services at Jutland, dated 31 May.{{GazSup|29751|9071|15 September, 1916}}
−
[[Category:Royal Navy Admirals of the Fleet|Madden]]
+
 
−
[[Category:Royal Navy Flag Officers|Madden]]
+
Jellicoe wrote to Balfour on 19 November, 1916:
 +
 
 +
<blockquote>You will no doubt remember that I have always stated that I consider Admiral Madden better fitted for the Chief Command than is Admiral Beatty.  I am bound to reiterate this opinion although I know that the decision which you announce is taken after much reflection.<ref>Balfour Papers.  British Library.  Add. MSS. 49714.  f. 159.</ref></blockquote>
 +
 
 +
On the change of chief command in 1916 Madden was appointed to the command of the first battle squadron, as second in command of the Fleet, with the acting rank of admiral (flag in the {{UK-Marlborough}} and later in the {{UK-Revenge}}), and retained it until April 1919, having been confirmed in the rank of Admiral on 12 February of that year (vice [[Archibald Berkeley Milne, Second Baronet|Sir Berkeley Milne]]).{{Gaz|31201|2738|25 February, 1919}}  When Sir David (afterwards Earl) Beatty hauled down his flag as Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet and the war organization of the navy was broken up, Madden was appointed to the command of the newly constituted Atlantic Fleet and Home Fleet with {{UK-QueenElizabeth}} as his flagship, an appointment he held from 1919 to 1922.
 +
 
 +
==Post-war and Atlantic Fleet==
 +
Madden was appointed an Additional Member of the First Class, or Knight Grand Cross, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (G.C.B.) on 1 January, 1919.{{GazSup|31099|106|1 January, 1919}}  In the autumn of 1919 Madden was created a Baronet and granted £10,000 by a vote of parliament, and on finally coming ashore in August, 1922 he received a letter of appreciation from the Board of Admiralty for "the manner in which he exercised command of the Atlantic Fleet and for his services to the Royal Navy and to the Empire."  He was appointed [[First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp]] to the King on 15 August, vice [[Stanley Cecil James Colville|Colville]].{{Gaz|32740|6157|22 August, 1922}} 
 +
 
 +
Madden was promoted to the rank of {{FleetRN}} on 31 July, 1924, vice [[Henry Bradwardine Jackson|Jackson]].{{Gaz|32962|5889|5 August, 1924}}  He served in 1923–1924 as chairman of the committee on the functions and training of Royal Marines, and in 1925, under the chairmanship of Lord Chelmsford, on that for the list of executive officers of the navy.  He was appointed First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff on 30 July, 1927, in succession to Earl Beatty.<ref>''The Naval Staff of the Admiralty''.  p. 119.</ref>  He would have been placed on the Retired List on 31 July, 1929, but, in order to retain him in office, the First Lord (W. C. Bridgeman) procured a special order in council to secure his remaining Admiral of the Fleet on the Active List supernumerary to establishment, so long as he held appointment as First Sea Lord.<ref>Order in Council of 21 March, 1929.</ref>
 +
 
 +
==First Sea Lord==
 +
 
 +
==Retirement==
 +
Madden was placed on the Retired List on 30 July, 1930.<ref>ADM 196/42.  f. 205.</ref>
 +
 
 +
He died on 30 June, 1935.<ref>ADM 196/42.  f. 205.</ref>  Lady Madden died on 18 November, 1964.<ref>"Obituaries" (Obituaries).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 21 November, 1964.  Issue '''56175''', col E, p. 10.</ref>
 +
 
 +
Writing in January, 1946, Admiral of the Fleet Lord Chatfield gave Madden a rather mixed rating coupled with a backhanded compliment:
 +
 
 +
<blockquote>Madden was not a weak character.  He was "reserved" rather than amicable - he did not bide fools gladly.  He had a firm, upright character & was essentially loyal - it was the latter quality, <u>not</u> a lack of ideas or forcefulness, that made his 2<sup><u>d</u></sup> in Command to Beatty so successful.  The Fleet knew this.  In his later years he was <u>tired</u> - that was why he failed in 1930.  Defeated, not only, by the Ch. of Ex. [Chancellor of the Exchequer] but by the <u>F.O.</u> [Foreign Office]<ref>Chatfield to Baddeley.  Letter of 10 January, 1946.  Baddeley Papers.  National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth.  MSS 264.</ref></blockquote>
 +
 
 +
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Osmond Brock opined:
 +
 
 +
<blockquote>In my opinion he was one of those many Naval Officers who, partly by much service abroad, & chiefly by becoming immersed in the details of their profession, became confined in their views and therefore when they reach the higher ranks find it difficult to discuss the broad aspects of policy and are at a disadvantage when doing so with men of a wider education - e.g. politicians!<ref>Brock to Baddeley.  Letter of 7 November, 1945.  Baddeley Papers.  National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth.  MSS 264.</ref></blockquote>
 +
 
 +
==See Also==
 +
{{refbegin}}
 +
{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Charles_Madden,_1st_Baronet}}
 +
{{refend}}
 +
 
 +
==Bibliography==
 +
{{refbegin}}
 +
*Dictionary of National Biography.
 +
*"Admiral of the Fleet Sir C. Madden" (Obituaries).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 6 June, 1935.  Issue '''47083''', col A, p. 21.
 +
{{refend}}
 +
 
 +
==Papers==
 +
{{refbegin}}
 +
*[http://collections.rmg.co.uk/archive/objects/491841.html Papers in the possession of the National Maritime Museum.]
 +
{{refend}}
 +
 
 +
==Images==
 +
{{refbegin}}
 +
*1922 Reginald Grenville Eves portrait in the possession of the Imperial War Museum.  Catalogue Number IWM ART 4177.
 +
{{refend}}
 +
 
 +
==Service Records==
 +
{{refbegin}}
 +
*{{TNA|ADM 196/87.|D8115350}}
 +
*{{TNA|ADM 196/42.|D7579038}}
 +
*{{TNA|ADM 196/20.|D7590573}}
 +
{{refend}}
 +
 
 +
<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
 +
{{TabNaval}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 66 (1885)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 66]]'''<br>23 Apr, 1887<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.|}} f. 83.</ref> &ndash; 7 Jul, 1887|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Delabere Granville|Charles D. Granville]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 72 (1885)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 72]]'''<br>7 Jul, 1887{{NMI|Saturday, 2 July, 1887.  Issue '''32114''', col C, p. 12}} &ndash; 15 Aug, 1887|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Somerset Arthur Gough-Calthorpe|Somerset A. G. Calthorpe]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[William Lowther Grant|William L. Grant]]'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 80 (1886)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 80]]'''<br>18 Jul, 1894{{ToL|The Naval Manoeuvres|July 12, 1894, Issue 34314, p.10}} &ndash; Aug, 1894|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Carlyon Wilfroy Bellairs|Carlyon W. Bellairs]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[James Andrew Thomas Bruce|James A. T. Bruce]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Orion (1879)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Orion'']]'''<br>1 Apr, 1902 &ndash; 7 Aug, 1902|Succeeded by<br>'''[[William Fane De Salis|William De Salis]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Good Hope (1901)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Good Hope'']]'''<br>5 Sep, 1902<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref> &ndash; 4 Nov, 1904<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Bernard Currey|Bernard Currey]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Frederick Livington Campbell|Frederick L. Campbell]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Majestic (1895)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Majestic'']]'''<br>26 Dec, 1904<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref> &ndash; 9 Jan, 1905<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Edmund Kingsmill|Charles E. Kingsmill]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur Cavenagh Leveson|Arthur C. Leveson]]'''|'''[[Third Sea Lord|Naval Assistant to the Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy]]'''<br>7 Feb, 1905<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref> &ndash; 20 Dec, 1905<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Alexander Ludovic Duff|Alexander L. Duff]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Reginald Hugh Spencer Bacon|Reginald H. S. Bacon]]'''|'''[[First Sea Lord|Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord]]'''<br>20 Dec, 1905<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Archibald Gordon Henry Wilson Moore|A. Gordon H. W. Moore]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Reginald Hugh Spencer Bacon|Reginald H. S. Bacon]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Dreadnought (1906)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Dreadnought'']]'''<br>12 Aug, 1907<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref> &ndash; 1 Dec, 1908<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Martin-de-Bartolomé|Charles Bartolomé]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Hugh Evan-Thomas|Hugh Evan-Thomas]]'''|'''[[Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty|Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty]]'''<br>14 Dec, 1908<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref> &ndash; 25 Jan, 1910<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Ernest Charles Thomas Troubridge|Ernest C. T. Troubridge]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Alfred Leigh Winsloe|Sir A. Leigh Winsloe]]'''|'''[[Fourth Sea Lord|Fourth Sea Lord]]'''<br>25 Jan, 1910<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref> &ndash; 5 Dec, 1911<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[William Christopher Pakenham|William C. Pakenham]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Richard Henry Peirse|Richard H. Peirse]]'''|'''[[Home Fleet (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral in the First Division, Home Fleet]]'''<br>5 Jan, 1912{{NavAppts|Friday, 6 January, 1912.  Issue '''39787''', col C, p. 4}} &ndash; 10 Nov, 1912<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''Charles E. Madden,<br>as [[First Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral Second in Command, First Battle Squadron]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''Charles E. Madden,<br>as [[Home Fleet (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral in the First Division, Home Fleet]]'''|'''[[First Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral in the First Battle Squadron]]'''<br>5 Jan, 1912{{UKCeased|Unnumbered page}}<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref> &ndash; 10 Nov, 1912<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Somerset Arthur Gough-Calthorpe|The Hon. Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''Nucleus Crew Squadron 1909-1912'''|'''[[Third Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Cruiser Squadron]]'''<br>? &ndash; 19 Dec, 1913<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[William Christopher Pakenham|William C. Pakenham]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee, First Baronet|F. C. Doveton Sturdee]]'''|'''[[Second Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral Commanding, Second Cruiser Squadron]]'''<br>19 Dec, 1913<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref> &ndash; 29 Jul, 1914<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 83.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Somerset Arthur Gough-Calthorpe|The Hon. Sir Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe]]'''<br><small>as '''Vice-Admiral Commanding, Second Cruiser Squadron'''</small>}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Appointment'''|'''[[Grand Fleet|Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet]]'''<br>4 Aug, 1914<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/87.}}  f. 124.</ref> &ndash; 27 Nov, 1916<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/87.}}  f. 124.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Osmond de Beauvoir Brock|Osmond de B. Brock]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Cecil Burney, First Baronet|Cecil Burney]]'''|'''[[Grand Fleet|Second-in-Command, Grand Fleet]]'''<br>28 Nov, 1916 &ndash; 7 Apr, 1919|Succeeded by<br>'''Command Dispersed'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Cecil Burney, First Baronet|Sir Cecil Burney]]'''|'''[[First Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral Commanding, First Battle Squadron]]'''<br>28 Nov, 1916{{UKCeased|p. 2}}<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/87.}}  f. 124.</ref> &ndash; 7 Apr, 1919<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/87.}}  f. 124.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Sydney Robert Fremantle|Sir Sydney R. Fremantle]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Cecil Burney, First Baronet|Cecil Burney]]'''<br><small>as '''Vice-Admiral Commanding, Atlantic Fleet'''</small>|'''[[Atlantic Fleet (Royal Navy)|Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet]]'''<br>8 Apr, 1919<ref>"End of Grand Fleet" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 3 April, 1919.  Issue '''42065''', col D, p. 13.</ref><ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/87.}}  f. 124.</ref> &ndash; 15 Aug, 1922<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/87.}}  f. 124.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Michael de Robeck, First Baronet|Sir John M. de Robeck]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[David Richard Beatty, First Earl Beatty|The Rt. Hon. The Earl Beatty]]'''|'''[[First Sea Lord|First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff]]'''<br>30 Jul, 1927{{UKNavalStaff|p. 119}}<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/87.}}  f. 124.</ref> &ndash; 30 Jul, 1930<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/87.}}  f. 124.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frederick Laurence Field|Sir Frederick L. Field]]'''}}
 +
{{TabCourt}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Stanley Cecil James Colville|The Hon. Sir Stanley C. J. Colville]]'''|'''[[First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp|First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp]]'''<br>15 Aug, 1922{{Gaz|32740|6157|22 August, 1922}}<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/87.}}  f. 124.</ref> &ndash; 31 Jul, 1924<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/87.}}  f. 124.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Somerset Arthur Gough-Calthorpe|The Hon. Sir Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe]]'''}}
 +
{{TabEnd}}
 +
</div name=fredbot:appts>
 +
 
 +
==Footnotes==
 +
{{reflist}}
 +
 
 +
{{DEFAULTSORT:Madden, Charles}}
 +
 
 +
{{CatPerson|UK|1862|1935}}
 +
{{CatBritannia|July, 1875}}
 +
[[Category:Chiefs of the Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet]]
 +
{{CatAdmOfTheFleet|UK}}
 +
{{CatRN}}

Latest revision as of 14:56, 27 June 2022

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles E. Madden, Bart.
Photograph: By courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Admiral of the Fleet SIR Charles Edward Madden, First Baronet, G.C.B., O.M., G.C.V.O., K.C.M.G., D.C.L., L.L.D., Royal Navy (5 September, 1862 – 5 June, 1935) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Early Life & Career

Madden was born at Brompton, Gillingham, Kent, 5 September, 1862, the second son of Captain John William Madden, of the Fourth (King's Own) Regiment, by his wife, Emily, second daughter of John Busby, of Kingstown; he was descended from a long line of Anglo-Irish families. He entered the Britannia as a naval cadet on 15 January, 1875[1] and on promotion to Midshipman in 1877 was sent to the Alexandra, the Flagship of (Sir) Geoffrey Hornby, in the Mediterranean, and served in her throughout that famous command.

In 1880 he went to the Ruby, a corvette in the East Indies Squadron, for two and a half years, being promoted Sub-Lieutenant in her in 1881. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 27 July, 1884.[2] Soon after promotion to Lieutenant in 1884 he decided to specialize in torpedo and spent two years in the Vernon torpedo school with an additional six months as staff officer of that establishment.

On 7 July 1887, he was loaned to command the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 72 for manoeuvres.[3]

In 1892 he was appointed Torpedo Lieutenant of the Royal Sovereign, Flagship of the Channel Squadron, and in 1893 resumed his post as staff officer of the Vernon. He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1896.[4] After three years at sea as commander of the cruiser Terrible and the battleship Cæsar he returned to the Vernon in 1899 for a further two years.

Captain

Madden was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1901.[5] He was temporarily reappointed to Vernon on the same day. On 29 October Captain Robinson wrote of him: "Excellent executive officer & torpedo specialist. Would make an excellent Flag Captain." On 13 February, 1902, he was appointed to Renown, flagship in the Mediterranean, for duty with torpedo boat destroyers on that station. He was reappointed to H.M.S. Orion in that capacity from 1 April to 7 August.

On 5 September he was appointed to H.M.S. Duke of Wellington for command of the new armoured cruiser Good Hope, which he commissioned on 8 November as flagship of Rear-Admiral Wilmot H. Fawkes.[6] During this service he took the Colonial Secretary, Joseph Chamberlain, on a visit to South Africa at the end of 1902. On the occasion of the King's visit to Ireland Madden was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) on 11 August, 1903.[7]

Rear-Admiral Fawkes wrote of Madden in October, 1904: "Has all the high qualifications for command, knowledge, temper, tact, breadth of view, health, & is looked up to by every officer & man in the ship." He gave up command of Good Hope on 5 November and on 11 November was appointed to the Admiralty for committee work; the Committee on Designs. From 27 December to 9 January, 1905, he commanded H.M.S. Majestic, and on 7 February he returned to the Admiralty as Naval Assistant to the Third Sea Lord and Controller, Captain Henry B. Jackson. He remained with Jackson until 20 December, when he became Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord, Sir John A. Fisher. He retained this position until 12 August, 1907. On the occasion of the King's inspection of the Home Fleet he was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) on 3 August.[8]

He was appointed Captain of H.M.S. Dreadnought on 12 August, 1907,[9] and Chief of the Staff to Vice-Admiral Sir Francis C. B. Bridgeman, Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet. On 1 December, 1908, he returned to the Admiralty for Committee work, and on 12 December he was appointed Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty, Reginald McKenna. In Madden's service record, Bridgeman noted: "This offr. has no defects; his zeal & judgement are both excellent; his physical qualities are all that could be desired, & he has been the best Flag Capt. & Ch. of Staff an Admiral could possibly wish for. Strongly recomd him for advanct."

When discussing the composition of a new Board of Admiralty in 1909, Fisher wrote to McKenna:

I still cling to Madden as Controller, and Jellicoe is in full accord. Briggs, the only [other] possible, is not to be compared with Madden and would be nowhere for months! simply an automaton signing papers! Besides, I don't see how you are going to get rid of Winsloe so early as January, so the Fourth Sea Lord would not be vacant for Madden.[10]

On 1 January, 1910, Madden was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to King Edward VII, vice Beatty.[11] He was appointed Fourth Sea Lord on 25 January.

Flag Rank

Madden was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 12 April, 1911.[12] He had had unusually short sea service as a post-captain, and only fourteen months' fleet experience, but he was now to be at sea continuously for over eleven years as a flag officer in the main British Fleet, including the whole period of the war of 1914–1918. This succession of sea-roving commands started with him command the first division, Home Fleet from flagship St. Vincent during 1912, the Third Cruiser Squadron from Antrim during 1913, and then, from 19 December, 1913, the Second Cruiser Squadron from Shannon.

In May, 1914, it was announced that in August Madden would succeed Rear-Admiral A. G. H. W. Moore as Third Sea Lord.[13] He turned over his command to Rear-Admiral the Honourable Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe on 29 July at Chatham,[14] and was appointed to President for Special Service at the Admiralty.[1]

Great War

When Admiral Sir J. R. (afterwards Earl) Jellicoe was appointed to take over the command of the Grand Fleet he asked for his wife's brother-in-law, Madden, who had been designated to rejoin the Board of Admiralty as third sea lord and controller, to accompany him as chief of staff. Madden was accordingly sent to the Iron Duke (Jellicoe's flagship) on 4 August 1914 and remained in her until Jellicoe became First Sea Lord in November 1916, having been promoted acting Vice-Admiral in June 1915 and confirmed in that rank on 10 June, 1916.[15] In Jellicoe's Jutland dispatch of 18 June 1916, Madden's brilliant work as his Chief of Staff was recorded thus: "Throughout a period of twenty-one months of war his services have been of inestimable value. His good judgment, his long experience in fleets, special gift for organization, and his capacity for unlimited work, have all been of the greatest assistance to me, and have relieved me of much of the anxiety inseparable from the conduct of the fleet during the war. In the stages leading up to the fleet action and during and after the action he was always at hand to assist, and his judgment never at fault. I owe him more than I can say." During his time as Chief of the Staff, Madden went to sea in command, for example taking the First Battle Squadron for exercises west of the Orkneys on 23 September, 1915, and again on the 27th.[16] On 1 January, 1916, he was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.).[17]

On 15 September he was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (K.C.M.G.) for his services at Jutland, dated 31 May.[18]

Jellicoe wrote to Balfour on 19 November, 1916:

You will no doubt remember that I have always stated that I consider Admiral Madden better fitted for the Chief Command than is Admiral Beatty. I am bound to reiterate this opinion although I know that the decision which you announce is taken after much reflection.[19]

On the change of chief command in 1916 Madden was appointed to the command of the first battle squadron, as second in command of the Fleet, with the acting rank of admiral (flag in the Marlborough and later in the Revenge), and retained it until April 1919, having been confirmed in the rank of Admiral on 12 February of that year (vice Sir Berkeley Milne).[20] When Sir David (afterwards Earl) Beatty hauled down his flag as Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet and the war organization of the navy was broken up, Madden was appointed to the command of the newly constituted Atlantic Fleet and Home Fleet with Queen Elizabeth as his flagship, an appointment he held from 1919 to 1922.

Post-war and Atlantic Fleet

Madden was appointed an Additional Member of the First Class, or Knight Grand Cross, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (G.C.B.) on 1 January, 1919.[21] In the autumn of 1919 Madden was created a Baronet and granted £10,000 by a vote of parliament, and on finally coming ashore in August, 1922 he received a letter of appreciation from the Board of Admiralty for "the manner in which he exercised command of the Atlantic Fleet and for his services to the Royal Navy and to the Empire." He was appointed First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King on 15 August, vice Colville.[22]

Madden was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet on 31 July, 1924, vice Jackson.[23] He served in 1923–1924 as chairman of the committee on the functions and training of Royal Marines, and in 1925, under the chairmanship of Lord Chelmsford, on that for the list of executive officers of the navy. He was appointed First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff on 30 July, 1927, in succession to Earl Beatty.[24] He would have been placed on the Retired List on 31 July, 1929, but, in order to retain him in office, the First Lord (W. C. Bridgeman) procured a special order in council to secure his remaining Admiral of the Fleet on the Active List supernumerary to establishment, so long as he held appointment as First Sea Lord.[25]

First Sea Lord

Retirement

Madden was placed on the Retired List on 30 July, 1930.[26]

He died on 30 June, 1935.[27] Lady Madden died on 18 November, 1964.[28]

Writing in January, 1946, Admiral of the Fleet Lord Chatfield gave Madden a rather mixed rating coupled with a backhanded compliment:

Madden was not a weak character. He was "reserved" rather than amicable - he did not bide fools gladly. He had a firm, upright character & was essentially loyal - it was the latter quality, not a lack of ideas or forcefulness, that made his 2d in Command to Beatty so successful. The Fleet knew this. In his later years he was tired - that was why he failed in 1930. Defeated, not only, by the Ch. of Ex. [Chancellor of the Exchequer] but by the F.O. [Foreign Office][29]

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Osmond Brock opined:

In my opinion he was one of those many Naval Officers who, partly by much service abroad, & chiefly by becoming immersed in the details of their profession, became confined in their views and therefore when they reach the higher ranks find it difficult to discuss the broad aspects of policy and are at a disadvantage when doing so with men of a wider education - e.g. politicians![30]

See Also

Bibliography

  • Dictionary of National Biography.
  • "Admiral of the Fleet Sir C. Madden" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 6 June, 1935. Issue 47083, col A, p. 21.

Papers

Images

  • 1922 Reginald Grenville Eves portrait in the possession of the Imperial War Museum. Catalogue Number IWM ART 4177.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
? 		Captain of H.M. T.B. 66
23 Apr, 1887[31] – 7 Jul, 1887 		Succeeded by
Charles D. Granville
Preceded by
? 		Captain of H.M. T.B. 72
7 Jul, 1887[32] – 15 Aug, 1887 		Succeeded by
Somerset A. G. Calthorpe
Preceded by
William L. Grant 		Captain of H.M. T.B. 80
18 Jul, 1894[33] – Aug, 1894 		Succeeded by
Carlyon W. Bellairs
Preceded by
James A. T. Bruce 		Captain of H.M.S. Orion
1 Apr, 1902 – 7 Aug, 1902 		Succeeded by
William De Salis
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of H.M.S. Good Hope
5 Sep, 1902[34] – 4 Nov, 1904[35] 		Succeeded by
Bernard Currey
Preceded by
Frederick L. Campbell 		Captain of H.M.S. Majestic
26 Dec, 1904[36] – 9 Jan, 1905[37] 		Succeeded by
Charles E. Kingsmill
Preceded by
Arthur C. Leveson 		Naval Assistant to the Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy
7 Feb, 1905[38] – 20 Dec, 1905[39] 		Succeeded by
Alexander L. Duff
Preceded by
Reginald H. S. Bacon 		Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord
20 Dec, 1905[40] 		Succeeded by
A. Gordon H. W. Moore
Preceded by
Reginald H. S. Bacon 		Captain of H.M.S. Dreadnought
12 Aug, 1907[41] – 1 Dec, 1908[42] 		Succeeded by
Charles Bartolomé
Preceded by
Hugh Evan-Thomas 		Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty
14 Dec, 1908[43] – 25 Jan, 1910[44] 		Succeeded by
Ernest C. T. Troubridge
Preceded by
Sir A. Leigh Winsloe 		Fourth Sea Lord
25 Jan, 1910[45] – 5 Dec, 1911[46] 		Succeeded by
William C. Pakenham
Preceded by
Richard H. Peirse 		Rear-Admiral in the First Division, Home Fleet
5 Jan, 1912[47] – 10 Nov, 1912[48] 		Succeeded by
Charles E. Madden,
as Rear-Admiral Second in Command, First Battle Squadron
Preceded by
Charles E. Madden,
as Rear-Admiral in the First Division, Home Fleet 		Rear-Admiral in the First Battle Squadron
5 Jan, 1912[49][50] – 10 Nov, 1912[51] 		Succeeded by
The Hon. Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe
Preceded by
Nucleus Crew Squadron 1909-1912 		Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Cruiser Squadron
? – 19 Dec, 1913[52] 		Succeeded by
William C. Pakenham
Preceded by
F. C. Doveton Sturdee 		Rear-Admiral Commanding, Second Cruiser Squadron
19 Dec, 1913[53] – 29 Jul, 1914[54] 		Succeeded by
The Hon. Sir Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe
as Vice-Admiral Commanding, Second Cruiser Squadron
Preceded by
New Appointment 		Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet
4 Aug, 1914[55] – 27 Nov, 1916[56] 		Succeeded by
Osmond de B. Brock
Preceded by
Cecil Burney 		Second-in-Command, Grand Fleet
28 Nov, 1916 – 7 Apr, 1919 		Succeeded by
Command Dispersed
Preceded by
Sir Cecil Burney 		Vice-Admiral Commanding, First Battle Squadron
28 Nov, 1916[57][58] – 7 Apr, 1919[59] 		Succeeded by
Sir Sydney R. Fremantle
Preceded by
Cecil Burney
as Vice-Admiral Commanding, Atlantic Fleet 		Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet
8 Apr, 1919[60][61] – 15 Aug, 1922[62] 		Succeeded by
Sir John M. de Robeck
Preceded by
The Rt. Hon. The Earl Beatty 		First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff
30 Jul, 1927[63][64] – 30 Jul, 1930[65] 		Succeeded by
Sir Frederick L. Field
Court Appointments
Preceded by
The Hon. Sir Stanley C. J. Colville 		First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp
15 Aug, 1922[66][67] – 31 Jul, 1924[68] 		Succeeded by
The Hon. Sir Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. p. 83.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 25383. p. 3485. 1 August, 1884.
  3. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. Saturday, 2 July, 1887. Issue 32114, col C, p. 12.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26757. p. 3978. 10 July, 1896.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27335. p. 4780. 19 July, 1901.
  6. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 8 September, 1902. Issue 36867, col E, p. 8.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27586. p. 5058. 11 August, 1903.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28048. p. 5390. 6 August, 1907.
  9. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  10. ↑ Fear God and Dread Nought. I. pp. 281-282.
  11. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28325. p. 30. 4 January, 1910.
  12. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28485. p. 2967. 14 April, 1911.
  13. ↑ "Flag Appointments" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 15 May, 1914. Issue 40524, col C, p. 8.
  14. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 30 July, 1914. Issue 40589, col B, p. 4.
  15. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29621. p. 5828. 13 June, 1916.
  16. ↑ Commander Matthew Best's notebook entries for 23 September, 27 September, 1915. Liddle Collection. University of Leeds. RNMN/BEST. Box 1. Volume III.
  17. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29423. p. 79. 31 December, 1915.
  18. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9071. 15 September, 1916.
  19. ↑ Balfour Papers. British Library. Add. MSS. 49714. f. 159.
  20. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 31201. p. 2738. 25 February, 1919.
  21. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31099. p. 106. 1 January, 1919.
  22. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32740. p. 6157. 22 August, 1922.
  23. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32962. p. 5889. 5 August, 1924.
  24. ↑ The Naval Staff of the Admiralty. p. 119.
  25. ↑ Order in Council of 21 March, 1929.
  26. ↑ ADM 196/42. f. 205.
  27. ↑ ADM 196/42. f. 205.
  28. ↑ "Obituaries" (Obituaries). The Times. Saturday, 21 November, 1964. Issue 56175, col E, p. 10.
  29. ↑ Chatfield to Baddeley. Letter of 10 January, 1946. Baddeley Papers. National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth. MSS 264.
  30. ↑ Brock to Baddeley. Letter of 7 November, 1945. Baddeley Papers. National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth. MSS 264.
  31. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  32. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Saturday, 2 July, 1887. Issue 32114, col C, p. 12.
  33. ↑ "The Naval Manoeuvres." The Times (London, England), July 12, 1894, Issue 34314, p.10.
  34. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  35. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  36. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  37. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  38. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  39. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  40. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  41. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  42. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  43. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  44. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  45. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  46. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  47. ↑ "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Friday, 6 January, 1912. Issue 39787, col C, p. 4.
  48. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  49. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. Unnumbered page.
  50. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  51. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  52. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  53. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  54. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 83.
  55. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 124.
  56. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 124.
  57. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. p. 2.
  58. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 124.
  59. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 124.
  60. ↑ "End of Grand Fleet" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 3 April, 1919. Issue 42065, col D, p. 13.
  61. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 124.
  62. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 124.
  63. ↑ The Naval Staff of the Admiralty. p. 119.
  64. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 124.
  65. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 124.
  66. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32740. p. 6157. 22 August, 1922.
  67. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 124.
  68. ↑ Madden Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 124.

Retrieved from "http://ftp.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php?title=Charles_Edward_Madden,_First_Baronet&oldid=330720"